"None of us is as smart as all of us."
Japanese proverb
This will strike many of you as classic Japanese decision making theory; however it is not unique to the Japanese nor even Asia.
Elements of the belief in the power of numbers to get things right are finding their way into all sorts of thinking from Clay Shirky's "Here Comes Everybody" to California governor aspirant Meg Whitman's "The Power of Many."
My question is this.
How do we balance the benefits that comes from the contributions of many with the genius that is often only found in one?
This will strike many of you as classic Japanese decision making theory; however it is not unique to the Japanese nor even Asia.
Elements of the belief in the power of numbers to get things right are finding their way into all sorts of thinking from Clay Shirky's "Here Comes Everybody" to California governor aspirant Meg Whitman's "The Power of Many."
My question is this.
How do we balance the benefits that comes from the contributions of many with the genius that is often only found in one?
That "genius" you speak of is largely wasted if he or she does not recognize the necessary contribution of others.
ReplyDeleteMany great ideas died because the otherwise bright, intelligent idea "parent" was unable to bring in the resources necessary to make their idea work.
And "genius" may just be being willing to leave the micro detail of how to get things done, to those who must do the work.
ReplyDelete