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Why Every Office Needs an Outsider

Posted by samzenpus on from the he-put-my-stapler-in-Jell-O-again dept.

Research has shown that having an oddball team member not only gives you someone to make fun of, but also leads to better decision making. Researcher Katie Liljenquist, says having "socially distinct newcomers" on a team can help it perform at a higher level. Team tension is crucial, and shaking up the same old crowd is the way to create it. "You can imagine if you work in an office and you've got this outsider like Dwight Schrute who walks in and a lot of his ideas resonate with you. Your fellow in-group members are hearing this and thinking, 'Wait, you agree with Dwight?' That can be really uncomfortable and socially threatening," she says.

7 of 81 comments (clear)

  1. It's also nice.... by Quantos · · Score: 5, Funny

    To have another scapegoat that you can blame stuff on too :)

    --
    Some people are only alive because it's against the law for me to hunt them down and kill them.
  2. me? by purpleque · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you keep looking for the outsider and can't find one...it might be you.

  3. Dwight Schrute by Culture20 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "You can imagine if you work in an office and you've got this outsider like Dwight Schrute who walks in and a lot of his ideas resonate with you. Your fellow in-group members are hearing this and thinking, 'Wait, you agree with Dwight?' That can be really uncomfortable and socially threatening."

    Socially threatening because Dwight Schrute is a sociopathic cat killer who delights in blocking fire exits and pulling the alarm. A better choice could have been chosen. Michael, for instance.

  4. Outsiders don't have to be assholes by cryfreedomlove · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I agree that outsiders can shake an organization out of inbred complacency. However, Dwight Schrute is an anti-social asshole. The most effective outsiders don't need to be an asshole to have the positive effect this article is calling for.

    1. Re:Outsiders don't have to be assholes by MrEricSir · · Score: 4, Interesting

      While I also agree that Dwight is a poor example, sometimes the outsider does have to be an asshole.

      The only way I've found to break through an echo chamber is by being enough of a jerk that everyone gets jolted out of their little world for a while.

      --
      There's no -1 for "I don't get it."
    2. Re:Outsiders don't have to be assholes by fructose · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Exactly. The perfect outsider is the one who is socially acceptable, technically competent, but isn't scared to ask 'Why are we doing this?' When you have a group of people that think the same, always agree, and don't deviate from the norm, you won't grow. If you have one person that frequently asks why or enjoys being the devil's advocate, then you get get change. Without change, you can never grow from where you are.

      Of course, some people are just asses. And those people need to be, uh, wiped off the books.

      So to speak.

  5. Re:I totally disagree! by Grishnakh · · Score: 4, Informative

    Or maybe, instead of inane nitpicking about "real english" we can just recognize it for what it is, a regional accent.

    It's not a "regional accent", it's a dialect. An "accent" is how you pronounce words. A "dialect" is a different version of a language, such as Castillian Spanish, used in Spain, compared to Mexican Spanish, used in Mexico. Accents and dialects frequently go together, but not always. Southern Americans speak standard American English (with a little regional variation in words, but not enough to be called a separate dialect), but with a Southern accent.