Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking
by Matthew Syed
“The central point is that solutions to complex problems typically rely on multiple layers of insight and therefore require multiple points of view.”
“Diversity is often regarded as a politically correct distraction, an issue of morality and social justice, but not of performance and innovation. It is debated in vague terms, people talking past each other. Our conception of diversity is not just incomplete but radically defective.”
“Honest dissent is not disruptive but imperative. Divergent opinions are not a threat to social cohesion but a contribution to social dynamism. Reaching out to outsiders for new ideas is not an act of disloyalty but the most enlightened form of solidarity.”
Few topics are under fire these days quite like diversity. It is a loaded term. Some equate diversity with images of affirmative action run amok and of less qualified applicants stealing jobs from the more deserving. Others see diversity as a means of righting historical injustices – giving opportunities to those less fortunate. According to Matthew Syed, this dichotomy and framing misses the point. Both views are not only misguided but completely overlook the core issue. Diversity isn’t needed for the sake of diversity. We need diversity because diverse teams perform better and are more effective. Different viewpoints mitigate common blind spots. This is not about giving historically marginalized groups added opportunities at the expense of others. No, this is about diversity of thought. Those with diverse backgrounds (race, class, gender, religion, and others) have different perspectives. And it is precisely those perspectives which can increase a team’s effectiveness, as long as the various perspectives, opinions, and viewpoints are actually communicated.
To illustrate his point, Syed suggests that the intelligence failures prior to 9/11 were not about the lack of clues. Clues were there. Signs pointed toward the terrorists’ aims. The intelligence agencies, however, did not identify the clues and patterns – both subtle and not so subtle – because most analysts thought the same way. The homogeneity among analysts meant unique perspectives were not heard. If agencies hired analysts with a more diverse backgrounds, the dots may have been connected rather than ignored. Syed also provides a unique perspective to the disastrous and deadly Mt. Everest climb written about in one of my favorite books, Into Thin Air. Rather than endlessly second guess the actions of each climber, we should take a step back and look at the information each climber had and did not have in the moment. Everyone’s perspective during this disaster was unique but there was an acute failure to communicate information during the deadly decent. As a result, no one, including the team’s leaders, had the full site picture. Could things have turned out differently? Perhaps. But the larger point should not be overlooked. Everyone sees a different part of the larger picture and to make the best decisions, all perspectives must be communicated. This is true not just at 29,000 feet but also for innovative ideas, the dissemination of disruptive technologies, or artistic endeavors. It is equally important when negotiating a corporate deal, playing on a competitive sports team, or in the halls of the CIA. Diversity of thought matters. Communication matters. Sometimes it is life and death. Other times it simply makes the team operate more effectively.
Looking at the bigger picture, humans could not have gotten where we are today without being able to communicate and disseminate information. Syed refers to this as the ‘collective brain.” Humans have been successful not because we are smarter but because collectively, we have progressed by taking others’ ideas and improving them. In other words, “If you want cool technology, it is better to be social than smart.” The reason stone age cultures are stone age cultures is because they have been cut off from the world, devoid of diverse thought. According to Syed, “cognitive diversity is not merely the ingredient that drives the collective intelligence of human groups, it is also what driven the ascendence of our species, created the latest of the major transitions on earth. This is, in many ways, the ultimate testament to the power of diversity.” Hence, why the free flow of ideas is paramount. This is why free trade is important. This is why open dialogue is necessary. Denying the positive impact of diverse thought is not only short sided but is ignorant to the power of teams and the human condition. To be 100% clear, this is not about choosing less qualified candidates, it is about the power of different perspectives.
Rebel Ideas strikes a cautionary note as well. There is a danger when stifling diverse opinions and promulgating echo chambers. One of the book’s more salient points, in today’s political environment, centers around the stifling of diverse thoughts by limiting the information one receives. This is not done, paradoxically, by limiting the information available but rather systematically dismissing alternative views upon contact. We see this all the time. News stories, for instance, are easily dismissed, without question, as ‘fake’ just because it may be from CNN, FOX News, or MSNBC. Articles in The New York Times are not untrue due to the views of its editorials. As a society, we must understand that having a bias does not mean a viewpoint is fake! Non-verifiable facts may mean something is not true (watch out for sources without uncorroborated facts). Savvy news consumers should know the difference. Which brings me to an important plea, do not ever be afraid of alternative opinions. The Gentlemen’s Reading List is meant to counter this narrow line of thought. We are supposed to embrace rebel thoughts, challenge the status quo, and welcome diversity of ideas. That is how individuals and societies grow.