Group psychology - Why even a decentralized community needs their 'heroes'
'The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.' - George Bernard Shaw
Even if several people shared the exact same idea about a specific issue, it wouldn´t be ever implemented until one of them did the very first step verbalizing the common thought.
Every party needs at least one person that conquers the dancefloor first - and then animates all the others to join.
Today´s blog post from @dragosrua has inspired me to share the following thoughts about group psychology with you.
Every party needs instigators
Instigators may emerge out of the crowd, or may create the crowd.
No matter where they come from, their job is sweeping away the rest of the group. Obviously, the group needs to be open for that wave of instigation, otherwise the motivators attempt may be rendered ineffective.
Any group or community needs powerful, positive, progressive and inspiring leaders - people others can look up to - that love to push forward the whole thing.
Even a decentralized system needs heroes
Since decentralization per se tends to negate leadership, elitism or centralization of power, it´s hard to establish certain natural behavioral pattern.
Unequal distribution of power IS natural. It has evolved through thousands of years of evolution and history.
Even an unintelligent pride of lions follows their alpha lion. It´s their inborn instinct to do so, since the leader has abilities they don´t.
Inspiration is a mutual process
Leadership is natural and not per se negative. Everything depends on the values and beliefs the leading role models provide. If these were inspiring and contributive to the whole community´s wealth, why might anybody stop following them?
What occurs to a community that doesn´t have any inspirational alpha lions? Stagnancy. What happens to an alpha lion that is forced to distribute his power? He starts to underperform.
In a group of people where everybody is supposed to have and maintain the very same level of power, the total output will decrease.
A community that doesn´t celebrate its leaders, heroes, role models can´t be pushed forward. There is no inspiration without being inspired and the other way around.
If leadership in a sense of progress, innovation, inspiration and motivation was part of the decentralized deal, the community would be able to bundle their forces towards the common goal: general wealth.
The concept of decentralization follows the ideal by which equality of opportunity is available to any participant allowing the highest aspirations and goals to be achieved. It´s a new way of living the American Dream. However, the fact that everybody has the same chances doesn´t necessarily mean that everybody has the same abilities to implement them. It´s a natural rule - developed through thousands of years of evolution and history - that every group needs at least one leader. The simple act of hailing heroic acts doesn´t denegate equality neither awards elitism. It´s even counterproductive to equalize power, since it will reduce the total outcome of the respective community. People rise by lifting others, and community´s develop by following their heroes.
Thanks for your attention. I hope you enjoyed the read :)
Marly -
Picture source:
Title image: https://cdn.shutterstock.com/shutterstock/
One guy pulling another: http://dreamcatcherreality.com/inspiring-things/
Rick Warren quote: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/
Leadership quote: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/
Thank you @surfermarly
So nice to see you on the dancefloor - inviting all the others to join.
PS. Today´s blog post from @dragosroua - Yes, it inspired me too.
Haha - I loved that one, thank you!!
We will do that dancing thing at the next steemfest, promised :-))
Thanks for your support.
Thanks for the post, I have now a better idea about your dancefloor conquerors :)
And yes, I agree: decentralization doesn't mean we're all equal, but we both have equal opportunity to become the best version of ourselves.
Yes, to create the best version of ourselves - that should be the common goal!
Again thanks for your inspiration :)
Beautiful!
With decentralization, it's all too easy to get caught up in the whole "equality" thing... I suppose because it is-- for many-- a rejection of "powerful central management." But we need to embrace the positive aspects of centralization for our benefit, not just summarily reject them on principle.
And so, the best hole digger would be well listened to when we need a hole, the best marketer when we need to tell the world. The assumption of "sameness" actually tends to lead to stagnation... and the whole becomes no better/stronger than the weakest member of the group, as a result of which it typically atrophies and dies.
Great post @surfermarly!
That´s it! Thanks for your nice adding, @denmarkguy - it´s much appreciated!