As I was looking at a very successful TV series this weekend something struck me. What most successful series have in common is that they have an antagonist, an enemy to fight, metaphorically or physically. Somehow this is essential for people to be interested and keep watching the show.
If we take a look in the real world, people gather around the subjects of their interest, but real commitment to a group only seems to happen when there is a common enemy to fight. Something most governments seem to exploit to stay in power. Create a common goal and a common enemy to fight and the fear, anger and frustration of the people is focused away from the leaders who created these in the first place.
I have always thought that metaphors were essential to creating a group conscience and focus its energy. It appears that the enemy metaphor is no exception. Monitoring the metaphoric representation of the enemy is essential, since it becomes an instrument to direct the energy of a group.
Still I wonder. Do we need a common enemy to create collaborative networks? Am I being naïve in hoping that this is not the case? If it is, is the metaphoric approach the way to go?
2 comments:
Is it a common enemy - or is simply something that coalesces us into a concerted action with one another? Even love does does the trick sometimes.
Fear certainly is a powerful force to rally people around. It is a powerful primitive emotion, and for this reason is linked to primitive reflexes: fight or flight. I molds individuals into a group, easily controlled by controlling the object of fear, but it is not a creative union.
People also organise around values, or issues they are passionate about. This form of organisation originates in the individual, and not in an external object of fear. It is less easily controlled, and is the foundation of true and lasting transformation and innovation.
If you want to organise a hesitant disempowered group of followers: use fear. If you want to create, build, and add value you need something better: tap into the creative potential inside all individuals, and I believe in fact this is what Colby refered to when she used the word ‘love’.
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