Preference Problems and Perspective Solutions

Diversity of perspective and method is the most consistently powerful way of getting closer to an optimal solution. This means that you have different brains, experiences, and methods all contributing to the solution to a problem. The science is clear – whenever you add diversity, you reduce error. 
Scott Page, Professor of Complex Systems at the University of Michigan, has extensively documented this phenomenon through his "diversity prediction theorem." This mathematical proof demonstrates that collective error decreases as cognitive diversity increases. Diversity produces innovation through recombination of ideas and perspectives, creating new solutions that are closer to optimal that exceeds the individual capability. 

Diversity of Preferences however can cause problems. Preference diversity is where you have people who want or prioritise different outcomes. 
For instance, my daughter's music preference is different to mine. She's Taylor Swift and others, I'm a little more old-school metal, rock and blues. These diverse preferences when deciding what to listen to in the car can cause a problem because there is no way to parse them without compromise. There is no optimal solution, only compromised ones. Well, in reality, it means we listen to Taylor Swift when she's in the car – very much messing with my Spotify algorithm and causing my music app to make some truly bewildering recommendations! 
When in disagreement with someone, it can be really powerful to consider this difference. If you can find out whether your differences are about preferences (what you each prefer) or perspective (your view on how to achieve a given outcome) then you can generate higher quality insights and conversations. 
At home, recognise that preferences are just that. It isn't 'wrong' to prefer Thai food over Italian (or vice versa) – there is no optimal. That my preference for a happy daughter outweighs the discomfort (only just!) I experience from letting her choose the music in the car (much to my disgust, I even catch myself singing along at times).  

​The practical implication is clear: High Performing Leadership Teams cultivate cognitive diversity while establishing shared goals. This balanced approach harnesses diversity's problem-solving power while maintaining decisional coherence. By distinguishing between these forms of diversity, teams can strategically incorporate different perspectives and methods, and powerfully deploy them toward common objectives.