Coherence is defined as the human ability to identify meaningful elements, relationships, and connections between them and their value. Fullan and Quinn (2016) mention that greater coherence can be achieved through purposeful action and interaction, clarity and precision at work, and constant monitoring of progress and mistakes. Judging by this strategy alone, one can define the importance of coherence: it helps to maximize working capacity and raise productivity.
The methodology of achieving coherence is based on systemness, collaboration, efficiency, and constant learning. Coherence is also associated with ongoing development since it constantly widens one’s knowledge and motivation. With this in mind, we can say that coherence is a crucial element in the development of humanity, the one preventing our world from stagnation.
The need for coherence can be noticed in many fields of life, relating to people’s personal and collective experiences. It is evident since a lot of decisions on different scales have mistakes or imperfections. When observing mistakes coherently, one can obtain a broader perspective and learn to correct themselves thoroughly, in contrast to reflex, impulsive, and sometimes random behavior, natural for people.
Fullan and Quinn (2016) specifically address the problem with political decisions, stating that “the remedies can be made to appeal superficially to the public” (p. 3). In other words, every decision made in a hurry cannot fully resolve a complicated social issue because the person in power lacks coherence. Certainly, coherence takes a lot of time to develop and often requires continuous collaboration, while political issues are usually urgent, so it would be unfair to call them completely inefficient.
However, in longer prospects, coherence, as the search for meaningfulness and value, is a more profitable strategy. Generally, once coherence is built, it will last for a long time and motivate one for constant improvement and make further development more accessible. Ultimately, just the desire for coherence and the path one takes to reach it can upgrade the decisions a person makes for himself or society.
Reference
Fullan, M., & Quinn, J. (2016). Coherence. The right drivers in action for schools, districts, and systems. Hawker Brownlow Education.