Fear of Authenticity

Since the earliest days of human culture some have sought to control the minds of others.  Methods have progressed, but the objective remains the same - obedience and conformity.

The ultimate objective is the control of many by a few.

In some societies simple violence and physical  intimidation are the accepted form of mind control.  Those failing to conform risk execution, torture or imprisonment.

Violent methods reach their apotheosis with dictatorships using mind police and mob rule to enforce conformity.  Recent extreme examples include the former East Germany, North Korea and Rwanda .

As violence becomes less acceptable the communication shifts to less tangible threats such as “those who don’t conform will go to hell and eternal damnation when they die”.

In some cases state and religion aligned to ruthlessly enforce conformity, in Franco’s Spain for example.

In other cases religiously inspired terrorism seeks to enforce conformity, such as in Northern Ireland.

Of course most of western society is far to civilised for all of that now...

In 1949 Aldous Huxley wrote to Geroge Orwell:

"Within the next generation I believe that the world's leaders will discover that infant conditioning and narco-hypnosis are more efficient, as instruments of government, than clubs and prisons, and that the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience."

The opposite of conformity is only called non conformity by those who believe in conformity.  

It might also be called authenticity.  

The consequence of mass non conformity is only called anarchy by those who believe in mass conformity.

It might also be called freedom.

For millennia the propaganda has been that individualism is a threat to the collective.  That propaganda is pushed by those who seek to maximise their personal value by controlling others.

The reality is that individualism is not so much a threat to the collective, as it is a perceived threat to their control.

For any community or organisation seeking to release the true creative and energetic power of people the question is; where do you draw the line?

Few would challenge that; rules of the road, common languages, respect for property are good ideas - for example.  

Equally, few would challenge that the less mature we are as individuals the tighter the recommended boundaries.

We can recognise that there is far greater potential for value creation, by those feeling the freedom to express themselves and the confidence to accept responsibility.   

We can also recognise that as part of a mutually supportive and well structured team the potential for value creation is enormously enhanced for most of us.

If this holds true any society, community or organisation structured with empowered and confident individuals in mutually supportive teams will create greater value for all stakeholders.

The challenge for leaders of countries, businesses or communities is to overcome millennia of tradition and trust that, handled well, letting go of control will lead to greater value for all - including them.