Jonah Lehrer’s book, Imagine: How Creativity Works, is a “popular science” approach to how we foster imaginative environments for complicated problem-solving. One, use groups—you need the friction of a variety of perspectives. But two, don’t brainstorm with a goofy, positive, “every-idea-is-great” attitude. So how do we cultivate both a petri dish which generates lots of ideas, and a microscope that sorts the best from the rest?
John Chandler
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Citing the corporate culture of Pixar studios, Lehrer discusses plussing, “a technique that allows people to improve ideas without using harsh or judgmental language. The goal of plussing is simple: when work is criticized, the criticism should contain a plus, a new idea that builds on the flaws in a productive manner” (p.163). In this way, the conversation doesn’t get bogged down on the faults of an idea (or a person), but focuses instead on fixing and improving the idea.
The erosion of civility in public discourse is an alarming cultural trend, and one too often heard in church conversations. The coarsening of dialogue in the public square is terrible—and we who follow Christ should not stand for it. The church should embody patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control. We are called to be a counter-cultural witness by the way we live out passionate but respectful conversation.
Sometimes, though, church discussions turn spiteful. Persis-tent attacking criticism has worn down scores of solid leaders. Passionate conviction does not excuse obnoxious hostility. Truth without love is often just self-righteous meanness.
Having said that, love without truth is often sappy sentimentality. And truly creative group environments refuse to settle for mediocrity. They won’t coast on talent alone.
Is there a third way between all truth and no love, or all love and no truth? According to Lehrer, plussing is a middle way of breaking down an idea quickly so that it can fail forward. It assumes tight relationships, yet ventures hurt feelings in service of a truth and mission that is bigger than feelings.
The trend here is toward communal creativity, group imagination and rigorously honest conversations within an atmosphere of relational trust, speaking the truth in love toward a transcendent and shared mission. Count me in.
John Chandler is leader of the Spence Network, www.spencenetwork.equip.htm.