People assume that they perceive reality as it is, that our senses accurately record the outside world. Yet the science suggests that, in important ways, people experience reality not as it is, but as they expect it to be.
Jonah LehrerRead
The only way to maximize group creativity—to make the whole more than the sum of its parts—is to encourage a candid discussion of mistakes. In part, this is because the acceptance of error reduces cost. When you believe your flaws will be quickly corrected by the group, you're less worried about perfecting your contribution, which leads to a more candid conversation. We can only get it right when we talk about what we got wrong.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Encouraging open discussions about mistakes fosters greater group creativity.
In this quote, Jonah Lehrer emphasizes the importance of discussing mistakes within a group to enhance creativity. By creating an environment where flaws are openly acknowledged and addressed, group members feel less pressure to be perfect, which encourages more honest and creative contributions, thus leading to results that exceed individual efforts.
Themes
CreativityMistakesDiscussionCollaborationHonesty
In practice
Example use cases
In a team meeting to enhance collaboration, you might say, 'As Jonah Lehrer pointed out, discussing our mistakes openly can lead us to innovative solutions.'
More from Jonah Lehrer
All quotes →We need to be willing to risk embarrassment, ask silly questions, surround ourselves with people who don't know what we're talking about. We need to leave behind the safety of our expertise.
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Knowledge can be a subtle curse. When we learn about the world, we also learn all the reasons why the world cannot be changed. We get used to our failures and imperfections. We become numb to the possibilities of something new
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