Despite the apparent advantages of diving headfirst into problem-solving, this tactic may lead to misunderstanding and arriving at the wrong solution. This is demonstrated in a study on ‘mindless maths’, which showed that people are more likely to perform maths operations – even when no maths is needed – when the maths is more difficult. This runs counter to the idea that people are cognitive misers and prefer taking the easy route. In order to prevent this unconscious action, organisations need to incentivise people to take their time to frame problems, and help them become more comfortable with the state of unknowing. Read full article here
Culture
The Priest in the Arena
The phrase “man in the arena” has been popularized in recent years, but a lesser known, more dangerous archetype is the “priest in the arena”. This figure is responsible for a process called theocratic capture, where an institution surrenders to a cult demanding unaccountable authority, fueled by claims to privileged knowledge. These cults often target powerful institutions and attempt to monopolize conversations with scaremongering tactics and hostile treatment of allies. It is important to identify and stop theocratic capture before it can gain control. Read full article here
Merv
May 29, 2023
