How to Think for Yourself
Tobias van Schneider
The author argues that constant collaboration in today's work environment stifles creativity and personal thinking. To produce valuable ideas, individuals need time alone to develop their thoughts without outside distractions. While collaboration is important, having a personal space for creativity is essential for meaningful work.
22 Oct 2024
Creativity requires time alone. Ask any writer, artist, designer who's ever lived. They'll tell you their best creative work happened in solitude. Where they could actually think. Where no voices were interrupting, no eyes were watching, no cursors hovering.
The natural desire to reach consensus inside a group tends to eliminate both bad and great ideas. It's a filter for both the terribly bad, but also the incredibly good. Consensus likes to settle somewhere in the middle — something we like to call the mediocre.