We need to move beyond the New Groupthink, which has overtaken our workplaces, our schools, and our religious institutions, suggests Susan Cain, author of the forthcoming book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking.

“Studies show that open-plan offices make workers hostile, insecure and distracted,” she says. “They’re also more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, stress, the flu and exhaustion. And people whose work is interrupted make 50 percent more mistakes and take twice as long to finish it.

“Our offices should encourage casual, cafe-style interactions, but allow people to disappear into personalized, private spaces when they want to be alone. Our schools should teach children to work with others, but also to work on their own for sustained periods of time. And we must recognize that introverts like Steve Wozniak need extra quiet and privacy to do their best work.”

In a study known as the Coding War Games, “what distinguished programmers at the top-performing companies wasn’t greater experience or better pay. It was how much privacy, personal workspace and freedom from interruption they enjoyed.”

“The one important exception … is electronic brainstorming, where large groups outperform individuals; and the larger the group the better. The protection of the screen mitigates many problems of group work.”

Would be interesting to see a study on how social networking impacts productivity. — Ed.

[ New York Times ]