What makes hanging out in a cafe such a good experience? Is it the social interactions people are exposed to? or is it the opportunity of observing the behaviours of other people? or maybe it's just the coffee?
I think it's all of them. And probably something more.
Cafes are like private clubs, with no members and infinite members at the same time. It reminds me of Schrödinger's cat. Maybe... Schrödinger's cafes? Nah. Cafes are like clubs in the sense that anyone can join for the cheap price of a coffee. And there is some magic in that.
It offers its warm rooms to people looking for a moment of peace (or not), working as a perfect "third place", as Eric Weiner puts it: informal, neutral meeting grounds.
Yes, true, they can be noisy. At the same time, it has been demonstrated that a moderate noise level happens to stimulate creativity. It allows the brain to enter into "diffused focus" mode: ideal state for creativity.
But there is something more about cafes that is important to consider: its information. In fact, cafes get you information (in the form of news, observations, whispers, thoughts, what the lady behind the counter is saying to her colleague, etc.), and with information comes knowledge, with knowledge come opinions, and with opinions comes personal mental enrichment. And lots of it.
Chatting, listening, sipping coffee and observing people, with people, creates stimulus not to be ignored; far more constructive and likely to generate good ideas than that way of fostering creativity every company uses: brainstorming.
Multiple studies demonstrated that forcing creativity the way brainstorming does, simply does not work. Why? Well, because of the "invisible" agenda. People sitting around a table until they have a VERY GOOD idea creates pressure. Pressure is no bueno. So why does everybody keeps doing it? Because it has been institutionalized and stuck.
Maybe, next time that creativity is needed (if it is for a meeting, project, or just for thinking), try exploring the vibes of cafes rather than boring conference rooms. That's all.
I think it's all of them. And probably something more.
Cafes are like private clubs, with no members and infinite members at the same time. It reminds me of Schrödinger's cat. Maybe... Schrödinger's cafes? Nah. Cafes are like clubs in the sense that anyone can join for the cheap price of a coffee. And there is some magic in that.
It offers its warm rooms to people looking for a moment of peace (or not), working as a perfect "third place", as Eric Weiner puts it: informal, neutral meeting grounds.
Yes, true, they can be noisy. At the same time, it has been demonstrated that a moderate noise level happens to stimulate creativity. It allows the brain to enter into "diffused focus" mode: ideal state for creativity.
But there is something more about cafes that is important to consider: its information. In fact, cafes get you information (in the form of news, observations, whispers, thoughts, what the lady behind the counter is saying to her colleague, etc.), and with information comes knowledge, with knowledge come opinions, and with opinions comes personal mental enrichment. And lots of it.
Chatting, listening, sipping coffee and observing people, with people, creates stimulus not to be ignored; far more constructive and likely to generate good ideas than that way of fostering creativity every company uses: brainstorming.
Multiple studies demonstrated that forcing creativity the way brainstorming does, simply does not work. Why? Well, because of the "invisible" agenda. People sitting around a table until they have a VERY GOOD idea creates pressure. Pressure is no bueno. So why does everybody keeps doing it? Because it has been institutionalized and stuck.
Maybe, next time that creativity is needed (if it is for a meeting, project, or just for thinking), try exploring the vibes of cafes rather than boring conference rooms. That's all.
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