The Brightest in the Room Will Not Shape the Future. Here's Why.
picture credit: Michelangelo Buonarotti
As I sit writing on my newest edition for the ✨MuseLetter✨ I am reminded of one of my family stories: my great-grandmother-in-law Eva immigrated from Canada to the United States at the tender age of 16, without knowing a single word of English. Her Shero-Story is that she taught herself English by solving crossword puzzles, defying all odds. Eva, without any doubt, had practical intelligence, paired with a big portion of tenacity. I love Eva's story since it is a beautiful illustration of how our concept of intelligence has evolved over time.
Today, we often prioritize cognitive intelligence over practical one, associating it even with success. However, this singular focus on academic prowess has its drawbacks. While it makes us experts in specific fields, it also fosters silo thinking and therefore ignorance in other areas. The consequences are evident – not only that we find ourselves at a critical juncture, facing ecological, economic, and social crises, but we also seem to have forgotten what empathy and simply being human mean. We suffer from our own creations.
Our traditional beliefs, learning methods and problem-solving approaches that ones worked are proving more and more insufficient. It's essential to broaden our awareness and pay attention to the limitations of intelligence alone because it can no longer sustain us as humans. So welcome to my newest edition of the ✨MuseLetter✨, where I explore the limitations of cognitive intelligence and the importance of developing our human superpower, aka consciousness, to bridge the gaps we have created and pave our way forward. Now, if you believe that consciousness and such "weird things" hold no significance for you, allow me to remind you of your humanity and that we are all born with the capacity to live in a developed state of consciousness. Each of us synthesizes the current state of our consciousness through the quality of our contributions in shaping our collective future - for better or worse. So keep reading.
First Things First: The Limitations of Intelligence
From the earliest stages of our education, we are conditioned to believe that the most intelligent individuals will automatically become leaders. Being the brightest in the room will lead to success, recognition, and access to valuable resources, and will get rewarded. But why do we worship cognitive intelligence so much?
The answer lies in the advent of standardized testing in the early 20th century, which aimed to objectively measure and compare individuals' cognitive abilities. That led to the rise of a system where academic achievements became the primary determinant of opportunities and social advancement. Consequently, educational systems often favored (and still do) cognitive intelligence, emphasizing rote memorization and standardized testing over practical skills and street smarts. And Counting, measuring, scaling, weighting, automating, and accelerating are still the preferred approach to challenges in most organizations.
While intelligence, particularly measured through IQ, is undoubtedly valuable and leads to beautiful ideas, it does have its limitations especially when we step into uncharted territory aka the unknown. Cognitive intelligence heavily relies on focused analysis and logical thinking, often disregarding the subtle nuances and interconnections between different fields of knowledge that a person gains purely through conversations or lived experience and which are so important to deal with the insanity of fuzzy edges. When it comes to fostering creativity and embracing unconventional perspectives cognitive intelligence proves its limitation.
Psychologist Jonathan W. Schooler and colleagues (University of Virginia) revealed in one of their research that individuals with high analytical intelligence, linked to logical reasoning and problem-solving skills, tend to rely on conventional and well-established solutions. However, those humans with high intuitive intelligence, characterized by the ability to make unexpected connections, embrace ambiguity, and think outside the box, are more likely to generate innovative and creative solutions since those individuals draw upon a broader range of information. While analytical intelligence is valuable for solving problems within a specific framework or domain, it may hinder flexible thinking and the exploration of novel approaches.
Social Sensitivity: Factor for Collective Intelligence
While intelligence is undoubtedly crucial, it is not sufficient for success. The relentless pursuit of expertise and specialization can inadvertently lead to narrow thinking, hindering collaboration and stifling innovation. In light of this, Thomas W. Malone and his colleagues from the MIT Sloan School of Management conducted a study to explore the factors that contribute to group performance. The study examined groups comprising individuals with varying levels of intelligence and discovered that collective intelligence, the group's ability to solve problems and make decisions together, was not solely determined by the average intelligence of its members. Instead, other factors played crucial roles.
One critical aspect was social sensitivity, which refers to the ability to perceive and understand others' emotions and intentions. Groups with members displaying higher levels of social sensitivity performed better collectively. Additionally, the study revealed that groups with equal participation in discussions outperformed those where a few dominant individuals dominated the conversation. These results highlight that while intelligence remains essential, it is not the sole determinant of group performance in problem-solving and decision-making. Emphasizing social sensitivity, effective communication, and equal participation significantly enhances a group's collective intelligence.
Consciousness: Why Should We Even Care?
By design entrepreneurs and visionary leaders, whom I affectionately call #Visioneurs, operate in the realm of what McKinsey refers to as the dynamic space between Horizon 2 and Horizon 3 in their Three-Horizon Model. As a framework for understanding and navigating the different stages of innovation and change, it also highlights the importance of consciousness in fostering future opportunities and shaping the entrepreneurial journey.
While intelligence undoubtedly plays a crucial role in understanding and optimizing present operations (Horizon 1), the true essence of shaping the future and making a lasting impact lies in the realms of Horizon 2 (emerging opportunities and growth) and Horizon 3 (future possibilities, disruptive innovations, and long-term vision).
Intelligence can take us far, but only that far. To truly flourish, we must position ourselves between Horizon 2 and 3, or even fully embrace the visionary landscape of Horizon 3. It is within these dynamic spheres that constant interactions take place at the fuzzy edges of systems, where uncertainty and the unknown loom large. To thrive and innovate in these uncharted territories, we need to adopt a broader perspective that extends beyond cognitive intelligence alone. Embracing emotional intelligence, intuition, creativity, and the ability to connect seemingly disparate ideas becomes paramount. These qualities help us to adapt, learn, and navigate through the complexities and uncertainties of forward-looking horizons.
Essentially, the spark of our individual and collective entrepreneurial genius does not depend on academic intelligence. Instead, it thrives when the right conditions nurture its flow. Recognizing that entrepreneurial genius finds expression through creation, innovation, and change, all driven by a spiral and circular dynamic that relies on iteration for evolution is paramount. Rather than advancing linearly, these processes flourish through iterative growth and constant refinement. Or as C.G.Jung said: "The intellect has little to do on the road to discovery. There comes a leap in consciousness, call it intuition or what you will, and the solution comes to you, and you don't know how or why."
Developing Consciousness: Intentional Introspection
So, welcome to the realm of consciousness! Explaining consciousness is challenging, as those who have experienced its development can grasp its essence, while others may need to personally undergo such experiences to truly understand it. Once you had a breakthrough you'll know.
While subjective consciousness cannot be directly perceived, some indicators reveal its development in individuals. One such indicator is responsiveness and system awareness, which manifests as inner leadership and a strong sense of direction. Self-awareness is another aspect, involving the recognition of one's core being and limitations, and taking ownership of triggers as opportunities for growth instead of blaming others or circumstances.
A person with evolved consciousness takes purposeful and intentional actions aligned with their values and assumes responsibility for their personal development. They don't wait until someone else comes and fixes the things. Those individuals communicate with clarity and precision, exuding clarity even in the vibration of their voices. Moreover, they learn from past experiences by contemplation and integrate their epiphanies into their behavior, becoming intentional and focused in their actions. Empathy and social interaction play significant roles, enabling them to understand and connect with others emotionally without losing themselves in drama. One indicator I find particularly beautiful to witness is that a person with developed consciousness exudes a certain glow and energetic attraction, drawing the right people towards them.
However, the path to developing our consciousness requires intentional introspection, and this is precisely why many individuals find themselves stuck in their growth process. It entails confronting our challenges and shortcomings, which may not always align with the idealized versions of ourselves that we aspire to be. We often yearn to be amazing, invincible badasses, or god:dess-like beings, but we shy away from acknowledging our moments of vulnerability and imperfection as ordinary humans. I am speaking from my own experience here. Owning my vulnerability was a long process for me.
Since it takes some time to make progress many people quit and fall back in old patterns. This is why it often takes the guidance of another person to find our path forward. For me, my teacher fulfills this role to shine a light on my blind spots. And in my business-focused Tea Room, I do the same for my clients, guiding and supporting them on their journeys of developing self-awareness and creating an impact in this world.
Bridging the Silo Thinking and Becoming Bright Again
Now, how does consciousness support bridge silo thinking that helped us to become experts but also made us stupid in some ways? As we saw, cognitive intelligence is inherently limited. There will always be individuals with more information. However, a developed consciousness expands our awareness beyond our immediate perspectives. The more we attend to our awareness, the more we evolve our consciousness. That's the beautiful thing about it: we create a positive feedback loop between awareness and consciousness. This loop fuels our capacity for perception, enabling us to recognize gaps in our systems and appreciate their interconnectedness at the same time. With this expanded perspective, we approach problems and opportunities from a holistic point of view, fostering clear and empathic communication with others. And understanding diverse perspectives allows us to embrace unconventional thinking, leading to the generation of innovative solutions for a better world.
I am not writing about utopia. We are witnessing an increasing number of individuals with evolved consciousness among us, and this will luckily continue. Pioneers, like Yvon Chouinard, John Fullerton, Laura Storm, Kate Raworth, Janine Benyus, Paul Hawken (just to mention a few among many other inspiring personalities) are already leading the way toward a Regenerative Economy, one that benefits people and the planet while fostering health and well-being of the economy. Consciousness and regeneration are both decisions in life. All it takes is stepping into them and then forging our path forward.
It makes me wonder what my great-grandmother-in-law, Eva, would have said about it. She probably would have lifted her beautiful French-Canadian-American head, exclaimed "Ces't bon!" and did what was necessary to do in this context: paying attention and expanding awareness. I hope you will, too.
Wishing you beauty and joy, my dear fellow.
Nicole
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