Conversation Agent: Are You a Spare Part?

The current view of the world of work is still organized around a "spare parts" mindset.

We're solving the wrong problem. We treat people as spare parts, constantly looking for a new one when things don't go the way we hope and forecast.

We have the models and we have the people. The focus on having the right people on the bus is distracting us from the mechanics of trading the model.

To succeed in the 21st Century, we need to face and solve ever complex problems. That means we're building in new ways.

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We move from one feed to another, one need to another, looking for ideas, tips and tricks on becoming more efficient and productive, shiny object from shiny object in search of that magic pill that will take us on top of the world.

Five ways, four steps, three reasons, two tips, one trick ponies, unicorns or chasing hope and hype, both of which you cannot trade.

Learning by bullet points can take you only so far. Simplifying only helps you deconstruct. To build, we need to construct.

When you study for the test

One story caught me eye the other day about a teacher's experiment.

David Guterson, a high school teacher, and a homeschooling father of four, questions the validity of standard test-taking in school, which is meant to measure the quantity and quality of a student’s learning during a certain period of time.

My reaction was the test format needs revisiting -- from multiple choice to essay. Create, don't repeat. When you study for the test, you miss developing your own thesis about a topic. Because it doesn't matter.

And we find ourselves unprepared to solve for the complex problems we come across in business and life.

Spare parts and work

The 20th Century view of the world is to educate for and fill job roles based upon a set of narrowly defined criteria. Describe and find a nut, bolt, or a hammer and look for the right pegs to fit in the openings.

We need new metaphors and a new language to describe people in relationship to business models. People are an asset because you can trade relationships. You hear "asset" used with "people" and you get nervous, because of what you think I said.

You object to the "spare parts" view of work. So that's what we should call it.

Organizations identify, assess, recruit, and manage by spare parts. It's lazy and not appropriate for the complexity, and beauty, of 21st Century business trade.

ROI

The return depends on your investment. Look for individuals who can assess, attract, and manage your company's portfolio by developing, designing, and growing. You're not filling a requisition, you're uncovering opportunity by being in the moment.

Are you making the right investments?

Are you a spare part?

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Presenting the Conversation Agent WORKSHOP, an exploration of how to see and compete on opportunity.