The Quiet Force behind Genius

Sometimes, a genius needs help to fully realize his potential. That’s the story of Willard Boyle, the co-winner of the 2009 Nobel Physics Prize. Together with George Smith, a co-worker at Bell Labs in New Jersey, they have invented CCD (Charge-Coupled Device), a key component in digital sensor technology that was both revolutionary and widely applicable. More on the story at Science Canada.

I don’t want to take away the spotlight on Boyle and Smith today because they fully deserve it. But a peek into the story’s behind-the-scene is equally edifying. It reveals an interesting character, Boyle’s boss. According to the story, Boyle was already an Executive Director of Device Development at Bell Labs but he still had a boss, a very demanding one, in Jack Morton. He would call Boyle every morning to prod or cajole: 

“Boyle?”

“Hello, Jack.”

“So what happened yesterday?” came the familiar question.

Boyle shifted a little more in his chair.

“I can’t see you, Bill,” said Morton.

“Right here, Jack.”

“So what’d you guys do yesterday?”

“You know, more of the same. We’re still working on those new transistors,” said Boyle.

“Look, Bill, the other guys are doing great stuff with magnetic bubbles. It’s terrific. What are you semiconductor guys doing? The heck with transistors. Try and come up with something different. I’ll call tomorrow.”

And he hung up.

It was the "try something different" suggestion from Morton that sent Boyle to look for Smith and together, they brainstormed a new theory in a single afternoon. The rest is history. There is no mention of the role that Morton played in the CCD journey from theory to application, but I can bet my 6-pack of beer that he was not far behind, not with his daily inquiries.

So the next time that you see or sense your team is in a rut, ask them to "try and come up with something different". And don’t forget to tell them that you will call tomorrow. God knows, maybe that’s all it takes to trigger a genius idea.

If nothing else, you would get the quiet satisfaction of being the force that ignited the lightbulb in someone’s brilliant career.

Postcript

Who is Jack Morton? The best way to learn about him is to start with the Memorial Tributes piece from the National Academy of Engineering. According to James B. Fisk, President of Bell Labs at the time of Morton’s death in 1971:

"Jack Morton was one of the rare breeds of men who not only generate a vast number of technological innovations themselves, but also develop and inspire others to produce major innovations in concepts, systems, and technology. He was a man who devoted his life to propagating technical ideas and developing technical people; and was able to blend management theory and management practice."

Photo credit: National Academy of Engineering

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