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Discovered in 1811, iodine was originally called iode from the Greek word for violet colored (ioeidēs). By 1931 it had been anglicized to Iodine, and this is where we find a little boy in a school house bathroom.
He was sent there by his teacher, Ruth Shaw, to apply iodine to a minor wound. Well, he did what little boys sometimes do, precisely the opposite of his instructions. Bright-eyed and smiling he took this bottle of purple-ish fun and got to work on the walls. Not a care in the world. Just him, his fingers, and a huge canvas.
We imagine Ms. Shaw’s reaction when she checks on him a few minutes later. Fortunately for the world, Ms. Shaw saw art, not shenanigans. This would be a moment of inspiration for her, and she would go on to patent non-toxic paint and the art of finger painting - a technique that resulted in more than a few refrigerator masterpieces.
If we take a moment to think back to this time in our lives, we were unabashed with our application of color, swirls, and all the other things your free-wheeling fingers could dream up. No judgment, no admonishment, and zero criticism. We didn’t get grades, feedback, edits, or “did you think about?”
Even when ROY G. BIV turned a solid brown, someone told you how wonderful it was and, by extension, how wonderful you were - because it was and you are.
Enter The No. 2 Pencil
Whether it was something in the water, the depression, or just chance, 1931 was also the year that a high school physics teacher, Reynold Johnson, invented the machine that could automatically score tests. This invention would end up being a boon for No. 2 pencil salespeople and their colleagues peddling it’s close cousin, the scantron.
While not Mr. Johnson’s fault, our school years would move us from paint-stained fingers to don’t color outside of the little bubble, or it will be wrong. Quite suddenly, we funnel from divergent tendencies and free-form paint swirls to something that converges on the practical—a specific pencil in a little bubble.
I am not here to admonish the educational system but only use these tiny fear-inducing circles to make a point. Society tells us it is impossible to be right if you are outside the lines. Experts, and their freewielding opinions, can make this even worse.
The Expert Trap
We all see the world through our lens - our perspective. As we look to provide feedback, it is almost impossible for us to be objective. We apply our knowledge, our preferences, and our history. While deep experience is valuable it can also kill innovation. As we become experts, we risk falling into the “expert trap.” It is too easy to believe that because of our experience, we know more or that we are right.
I’m an expert on some things and a complete dolt on others. And truth be told, I’m not sure which is which sometimes. Now, where I hold strong beliefs, you would be hard pressed to convince me to change my mind.
For example, tell me that culture doesn’t matter in an organization, only strategy. I’m not sure I’m capable of even processing that and I’m incapable of considering it without a strong bias against both the idea and the corresponding dolt.
When we become experts, real or perceived, we defend our position. We dig trenches, oil our weapons, and if we are not careful, we will die on our hill and take the entire company with us.
If you don’t believe me, let’s look at a few comments from experts.
There's no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share. - Steve Ballmer, USA Today, April 30, 2007.
There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in their home.
- Ken Olson, President & Founder of Digital Equipment Corporation (ever heard of them? ya, me neither)
"There is not the slightest indication that nuclear energy will ever be obtainable. It would mean that the atom would have to be shattered at will. - Albert Einstein
Television won't last because people will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night.
-Darryl Zanuck, movie producer, 20th Century Fox, 1946.
It will be years - not in my time - before a woman will become Prime Minister." - -Margaret Thatcher, future Prime Minister, October 26th, 1969.
What flywheel will you spin?
Whether respected or feared, leaders have tremendous power. Words and actions can change the course of the team and lives. It is an enormous responsibility, and we must be thoughtful and cautious.
Here’s the dilemma. Do we share our biased opinion on how to make something better, or do we open space for confidence and creativity? I give this no small amount of consideration daily, and unfortunately, often AFTER I’ve provided my ‘expert’ opinion. My ability to see the 1% wrong and tell you while missing the 99% that’s wonderful is stunning.
As a leader, if I spend my time applying ONLY MY perspectives to YOUR ideas, I will train you to bring me what I want and what gets you the least amount of criticism. I’m saying, “color in my preverbal scantron bubble, and you win.”
Worse yet, I unconsciously encourage the ENTIRE team to converge on a normative state that gets the least amount of criticism. Criticism creates fear, and a fearful environment deters creativity. Soon we will all act the same, produce the same, and potentially find our obsolesce in the torrent of newness that is our world.
Our humans need our expertise and our Ms. Shaw. Ms. Shaw finds us coloring on the walls, and rather than a reprimand for not bringing a No. 2 pencil, she reinforces that creativity is welcome. She simultaneously fills up our confidence cup. With that, we are primed to keep creating boldly, fearlessly, and with joy.
While Buddha might encourage us to be like the boulder, unmoved by praise or blame, that is hard in reality. It is particularly hard when navigating your school or professional life when so perceive that much is on the line.
We want to know when we are doing a good job. We are like children in that respect, a nudge keeps us going. That push gets the flywheel of confidence spinning. With confidence we keep repping out the next version. And with each version, we get better together.
Take Aways
Divergent Vs. Convergent Thinking: Convergent means coming closer together, especially in characteristics or ideas. Divergent is tending to be different or develop in different directions. Careful that your innovation don’t converge into a scantron bubble.
Expert Trap: Leaders must provide their ‘expert’ opinion but be aware of their blindspots and tendency to defend their hill. To avoid this, approach situations as a student, not a teacher. Curiosity is medication for this ailment.
Sometimes people need confidence, not criticism.
I hope you found this helpful. And if you did hit, like, I would love for you to leave me a comment or better yet share it with someone else who might find this helpful to. I hope you're good out there. Take care.
Are We Creativity Killers?