The Rise of Superman: Decoding the Science of Ultimate Human Performance

by Steven Kotler

But Sawyer also discovered that flow states have social triggers—ten in particular—which are ways to alter social conditions to produce more group flow. A number of these social triggers are already familiar. The first three—serious concentration; shared, clear goals; good communication (i.e., lots of immediate feedback)—are the collective versions of individual preconditions identified by Csikszentmihalyi. Two more—equal participation and an element of risk (mental, physical, whatever)—are self-explanatory given what we already know about flow. The remaining five require a little more information. Familiarity, our next trigger, means the group has a common language, a shared knowledge base, and a communication style based on unspoken understandings. It means everybody is always on the same page, and, when novel insights arise, momentum is not lost due to the need for lengthy explanation. Then there’s blending egos—which is the collective version of the same sort of humility that allowed Doug Ammons to merge with the Stikine. When egos have been blended, no one’s hogging the spotlight and everyone’s thoroughly involved. A sense of control combines autonomy (being free to do what you want) and competence (being good at what you do). It’s about getting to choose your own challenges and having the necessary skills to surmount them. Close listening occurs when we’re fully engaged in the here and now. In conversation, this isn’t about thinking about what witty thing to say next...