Daniel Pink's Whole New Mind
Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 09:35PM 
Recently I received an email from a coach who asked me an interesting question. “Since computers and technology are becoming more and more powerful, don’t you think coaches will eventually be obsolete?”
As it turns out, I just happened to be reading Daniel Pink’s A Whole New Mind, and it seems to me the book does a good job of explaining why we’ll likely need coaches for a long, long time. In his book, Pink makes the case that we are undergoing a seismic shift to a world in which right brain thinking will be dominant. I had always been a little skeptical about right brain thinking, but Pink’s book, and the ideas on his blog are truly food for thought.
Pink says the following. This new way of thinking will be “animated by a different form of thinking and a new approach to life – one that prizes aptitudes that I call “high concepts” and “high touch.” High concept involves the capacity to detect patterns and opportunities, to create artistic and emotional beauty, to craft a satisfying narrative, and to combine seemingly unrelated ideas into something new. High touch involves the ability to empathize with others, to understand the subtleties of human interaction, to find joy in one’s self and to elicit it in others, and to stretch beyond the quotidian in pursuit of purpose and meaning” (p. 3)
Pink identifies six “senses”, on which, he says, “professional success and personal satisfaction increasingly will depend. Design. Story. Symphony. Empathy. Play. Meaning. Here is what he says about each of these:
1. Not just function but also DESIGN. It’s no longer sufficient to create a product, a service, an experience, or a lifestyle that’s merely functional. Today it’s economically crucial and personally rewarding to create something that is also beautiful, whimsical, or emotionally engaging.
2. Not just argument but also STORY. When our lives are brimming with information and data, it’s not enough to marshal an effective argument. Someone somewhere will inevitably track down a counterpoint to rebut your point. The essence of persuasion, communication and self-understanding has become the ability also to fashion a compelling narrative.
3. Not just focus but also SYMPHONY. Much of the Industrial and Information Ages required focus and specialization. But as white–collar work gets routed to Asia and reduced to software, there’s a new premium on the opposite aptitude: putting the pieces together, or what I call Symphony. What’s in greatest demand today isn’t analysis but synthesis – seeing the big picture, crossing boundaries, and being able to combine disparate pieces into an arresting new whole.
4. Not just logic but also EMPATHY. The capacity for logical thought is one of the things that makes us human. But in a world of ubiquitous information and advanced analytic tools, logic alone won’t do. What will distinguish those who thrive will be their ability to understand what makes their fellow woman or man tick, to forge relationships, and to care for others.
5. Not just seriousness but also PLAY. Ample evidence points to the enormous health and professional benefits of laughter, lightheartedness, games and humor. There is a time to be serious, of course. But too much sobriety can be bad for your career and worse for your general well-being. In the Conceptual Age, in work and in life, we all need to play.
6. Not just accumulation but also MEANING. We live in a world of breathtaking material plenty. That has freed hundreds of millions of people from day to day struggles and liberated us to pursue more significant desires: purpose, transcendence, and spiritual fulfillment. (pps. 65, 66, & 67)
So what does this have to do with friends question about coaches becoming obsolete? Well, I believe that many of that attributes Pink identifies, attributes that he says are things that computers cannot do, are precisely the attributes of effective coaches. That is, coaches need to be empathetic, craft stories, integrate ideas, simplify to create meaning, and heck, let’s play a little too. I just don’t see the web being able to handle these human attributes, so until computers start to empathize and use the computer equivalent of their right brain, I think coaches will be needed.
Next week, I'll write about Michael Fullan's Six Secrets of Change
Reader Comments (5)
--Jim
I also believe that coaches will begin to play a more and more significant role. As I look at my own work, I see that professional development (in many ways) is something that can be done with technology. However, the implementation and differentiation of instruction for different teachers, is NOT something a computer can do.
I'll have to read the book. I've had it on my shelf, but just have not had time to read it. By the way, you can find some short video clips of Daniel Pink on youtube. They contain some gold nuggets.
You've answered the question about obsolescence in great fashion. We're doing a book study of Pink's AWNM, and the dialogue created [in building] is enough to sustain the idea that Pink's premises are impactful for even the very skeptical readers. Some of the more 'linear' thinkers seem to be struggling [a bit more] with applying Pink to education applications, but the challenge to do so should yield interesting results (and is definitely opening a few doors for coaching). Thx.