Author: Kevin Smith

Group think is a commonly held belief system that perpetuates the “status quo” and restricts the entry of new ideas. Group think exists within “intellectual silos” that restrict access to creativity and contains ideas, concepts, propositions, and assertions that reside within a particular mindspace supported by a definable group. Such mindspace is typically controlled by its senior members—often self-appointed—such that a rather stringent policing is in force to prevent the contamination of ideas that are “foreign and unacceptable.” “Contaminating ideas” are held at bay like an army defending its territory and includes defenses that employ ridicule, ad hominem attacks, denial of recognition, denial of affiliation, and so forth.

However, one of the few areas in which group think is not especially strong is aviation. This is why I love to visit aviation museums and see all of the out -of-the-box ideas on display.

I recently visited the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum companion facility, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, located near Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia. I was joined by my wife Sue; Leonora Cravotta of Red State Talk Radio; and Scott Adams,  the general manager of Red State Talk Radio.

The video below was recorded at the museum August 21, 2018.  I was seated in front of a Navy airplane that I flew as a Naval aviator: the F-8 Crusader. In this video I discuss this particular aircraft model and why it was so important for our national defense—which at that time was achieving “eye watering” speed.

The enormous challenge during this era was how to achieve supersonic speeds utilizing the engine technology of the day, which required radical departures from conventional wisdom. These ideas were so radical that they appeared by many to be delusional; yet they worked, in a most spectacular way. This aircraft, the winner of both the Thompson and Collier Trophies, was the first aircraft to exceed 1,000 mph and set a speed record, piloted by Senator John Glenn, that still stands.

Ideas are powerful. New ideas that are unconventional, are the most powerful because they contain the seeds of innovation. America is, and will continue to be, a great nation as long as new ideas are generated and innovation is encouraged and rewarded—and group think becomes a museum piece of what not to do.

Welcome to the new intellectual frontier: innovation.

Innovation (another term for complex problem solving) and critical thinking are the most sought after skills in the global job market—but the most difficult to fill, according to The Future of Jobs report published by the World Economic Forum.

Following the report, innovation became a national agenda item and may become an important part of the Trump-Republican platform, thanks to Newt Gingrich.

Innovation and critical thinking share the same cognitive space. They embrace anything that leads to discovery. The discovery of something new is what they are all about. But for really big discoveries, finding solutions to complex problems is now our greatest challenge that we face as a nation, just as when Nick Steinsberger discovered how to extract gas and oil from shale deep underground.

So let us rise to this new challenge, as we have so done in the past, and renew our commitment to be a nation of innovators.

Recent innovations in aviation, medicine, finance, and insurance highlight the cognitive processes involved in big discoveries. Contrary to what many believe, new ideas emerge from a rather systematic, disciplined process rather than from an off-the-cuff  endeavor.

The cognitive resources that help someone discover solutions to complex problems do not reside in any one discipline and, more importantly, do not emerge from data. Indeed, ninety percent of all enterprise data collected is never used—an enormous waste.

Breakthroughs in innovation and critical thinking do not come from what others know. They come from what many, or most, do not know but should. Thus the current view that justifies a particular cognitive arena or discipline is not likely to generate higher-order innovations (big ideas). Rather, they are content with small scale, incremental innovations. While playing it safe is okay with many cost-conscious managers, big picture thinking and breakthrough ideas are what America is all about, and are what we all should strive for.

Stay tuned! In our upcoming radio shows, podcasts, and blogs, we will expand on these ideas of critical thinking and innovation in America.