![]() In presenting their work, the study’s authors question the value of always-on culture-especially our submissiveness to intrusions. But when they gathered together, the group managed to improve the overall quality of their solutions thanks to collective learning. By interacting less frequently, individual group members had more time to nurture their ideas so the best could shine. It was the intermittent collaborators who landed on the Goldilocks strategy. But social influence often led these groups to prematurely converge around a single idea and abandon potentially brilliant outliers. ![]() Conversely, the always-on group took advantage of their collective learning to tackle more complex problems more effectively. However, their solutions varied wildly in quality, with some being true light bulb moments and others burnt-out duds. ![]() The researchers found that lone problem-solvers invented a diverse range of potential solutions. The second group type exchanged notes after every round of problem-solving while the third collaborated after every three rounds. The first group type had to work on the problems individually. In the study, participants were divided into three group types and asked to solve traveling salesman problems. Yet, such cooperation has its limits according to a 2018 study out of Harvard Business School. Modern technologies mediate near endless opportunities for collective learning and social problem-solving. We’re connected through the ceaseless chirps of friends texting, social media buzzing, and colleagues pinging us for advice everywhere we go. Solve problems with others (occasionally)Ī side effect of being always on is that we are rarely alone. If we’re serious about solving problems, at work and in our personal lives, then we need to become more adept at tuning out so we can hone in. It’s too much, and when things are always on all the time, we deplete the mental resources we need to truly engage with challenges. Take, for example, the modern expectation to be “always on.” We push ourselves to always be working, always be producing, always be parenting, always be promoting, always be socializing, always be in the know, always be available, always be doing. It’s ironic then that we continue to cultivate habits that stunt our ability to solve problems.
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