Today’s Reality

Amidst all the hustle and bustle of life, we often forget to reflect on what is real and what is important to us.  We spend so much time at work, trying to excel and outperform others.  The pace of life is getting faster in the digital age and catching up is the in game. 

In the 1980s, businesses invested in personal computers and main frames, most of which were chunky.  It did not matter if equipment occupied space but it improved efficiency.  However, man was not content with this and today we see businessmen discussing business with their small and slim i-pads which are more efficient than equipment used in the past. For some, that is their business suite.  Wearable devices have miniaturised this even further.

Man today continues to dream of succeeding and making lots of money. Businesses are driven by three major abilities, that is, the ability to:

• Out learn
• Out create, and
• Out think

To outlearn others, one needs to be adaptive and flexible in the face of change.  Undoubtedly, knowledge is important, but it is its application that can create innovation and enhance business viability. This brings to mind a quote from Arie de Geus, Shell Oil Company CEO who said, “a company’s ability to learn faster than competitors maybe its only sustainable competitive advantage”

Being creative is not an easy thing and to out create another person or team requires special talents. It is thus important for bosses to recognise and retain talent.  Appreciation of talent is key in developing a sense of belonging and bringing out the best of people.  “Flogging” and threats do not help folks to think out of the box, nor can it make them smarter or faster.

Essentially, establishments rely on good thinking skills to bring them to the next level and to stay ahead of competitors.  Unfortunately, this skill is at risk in today’s world which is reliant on automation and a comfortable life style. It is important for parents to cultivate this skill in their children from tender ages and for schools and institutions of higher learning to develop this further.

The truth is, the world of today needs a balanced performance optimisation that incorporates talent development with technology in an environment that enables active engagement and thought stimulation.