Newsletter

Staids and Explorers2024-05-06

There are two types of individuals (as well as organizations, and even fields of endeavor) in regard to searching for and adopting new things: staids and explorers.

Staids have as a strength long-term consistency, which can compound into slow but real achievements. They can be hedgehogs/tortoises. Staids focus on the downside and minimize the upside of new things, because they may have lost before, and as a consequence tend to stay put. They swing into action trying new things only when things are really bad, late in the game. Staids are more reflective, and might be prone to mild or clinical OCD, as well as low mood, all the way to depression.

Explorers have as a strength the ability to change direction, which can result in fast and spectacular gains. They can be foxes/hares. Explorers focus on the upside and minimize the downside of new things, because they may have won before, and as a consequence tend to get new things done. They swing into action trying new things even when things are comfortable, early in the game. Explorers are more impulsive, and might be prone to mild or clinical ADHD, as well as high mood, all the way to mania.

There is an evolutionary bias towards being staid, because the consequences of losing could have been death. Shrugging off and amnesia to past losses are key characteristics of explorers who achieve outsized success, but evolutionarily could have died.

A successful family, team, society, needs both staids and explorers. The first group is good at playing defense, the second at playing offense. Being aware of who you predominantly are, who the parties you are interacting with are, and what the current context of the game is, can lead to success in the game of life. And transitions between staid and explorer roles can and do occur, at different stages in the game!