In order to promote organizational innovation, we must encourage leaders and group members to value diversity. Is this more closely aligned with what Riesman is suggesting or does this fit better with Slater’s critique. I would agree with Slater that it takes a well-functioning group to protect and engage diversity. A cluster of individuals who are operating on their personal agenda can never provide adequate protection. Inner-directed perspectives don’t work. However, in order to recognize and honor the diversity requires that the leader and other members of a group, organization or community tolerate increased ambiguity, effectively manage conflict, and provide safe settings in which alternative ideas can be explored. Both personal (inner-directed) and collective (outer-directed) concerns and strengths must be engaged. This, in turn, requires the identification of strategies (training, setting of norms, creating supportive settings) that enable members of the group, organization or community to live with ambiguity, work with conflict and provide safe places for idea exploration. It is in the fifth essay of this series that I suggest structures, processes and attitudes that ensure Coherence. This is a special kind of interpersonal glue that addresses the matter of loneliness and moves us past the sociological perspectives offered both by Riesman and Slater regarding loneliness.
Conclusions
With regard to the matter of loneliness, we seem to have found agreement between Riesman and Slater. From a sociological perspective—whether offered by Riesman or Slater–it would seem that loneliness is harmful. It is an issue to be addressed by all people in contemporary society. It seems that loneliness is a threat to all of us—whether we are the Introvert or the Extravert who I introduced in my first essay in this series. In pushing against interpersonal relationships, the Introvert might find themselves alone and lonely. In pulling toward interpersonal relationships, the Extravert might similarly find themselves to be alone and lonely.
In taking actions in the world, the American in Slater’s myth acted as if he was an extravert; however, the American created conditions of interpersonal isolation as if he was an Introvert. Whether he was an introvert or an extravert, the American in Slater’s myth ended up being lonely. Are there other ways in which we can appreciate the dynamics operating in the heart and soul of this American? I would suggest that a study of loneliness from a psychological and existential perspective further enhances our understanding of this important element regarding the wonder of interpersonal relationships—the topic that I address in the third essay in this series.
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