The Power of Dissent
The only way to maximize
group creativity is to encourage a candid discussion of mistakes. We can only
get it right when we talk about what we got wrong. In a study that asked, "how can traffic congestion be reduced in the San Francisco
Bay Area?" brainstorming groups slightly outperformed groups given no
instructions. However, people in the debate condition generated nearly 25% more ideas.
After the groups disbanded, people in the minimal and brainstorming conditions
produced, on average, 2 additional ideas. Those in the debate condition produced
more than 7. Debate and criticism don’t inhibit ideas, but rather stimulate them relative to every other condition.
Beginning a group session with a moment of dissent – even
when the dissent is wrong – can dramatically expand creative potential. The power
of dissent is really about the power of surprise. “Plussing” allows
people to improve ideas without using harsh or judgmental language: Whenever
work is criticized, the criticism should contain a plus, a new idea that builds
on the flaws in a productive manner.
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