The anxious gap

New ideas do not bother us.

What bothers us is having to unthink old ideas in order to understand a new one.

When we unthink an idea we make space for a new, as yet uncomprehended idea.

In the gap between the unthought old idea and the not-yet-thought new idea is sheer anxiety.

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When a group tries to work out a problem and no resolution is in sight, this generates horrible anxiety.

It is tempting to force a resolution — either an old one, or a new one favored by one party.

Forced resolutions in the face of anxiety is what makes groups unimaginative and sterile.

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If a group learns to tolerate anxiety and to navigate chaos, its creativity can surpass that of an individual.

Group-think will eventually lose its pejorative meaning.

First, however, we will have to rethink the meaning of anxiety and creativity.

That means we will have to unthink our ideas around creativity and appropriate work conduct.

 

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