There are lots of things we do without personally interacting with other humans.
Digital technology allows us to be less connected.
Not just human interaction but physical connection with things we use or rely on.
Where does your drinking water come from? Who fixes your plumbing?
How was your phone made? Who made it?
What about the food you eat? Who grew it, delivered it, cooked it?
You could be excused for not seeing the far ends of global supply chains, but not your local grocery shop, or restaurant?
Or school or bus or medical clinic or sports club.
Just because you can go through life without knowing who does things or how they do them, doesn’t make it a good thing.
Civilization was built close up and hands on, not remotely.
Before you start connecting in work or as a leader you need to do it in your own life.
The less you interact the less we know each other.
The less we know each other, the greater chance you misunderstand or ignore others. The greater chance you make mistakes. The greater chance you miss feedback.
Technology lets you isolate and still live happily, but when that isolation becomes a habit it affects how you live and how you work in teams.
It makes you weaker.
Global supply chains give you products and services that you know nothing about, but when ignoring how we get things becomes a habit it also degrades how you understand the world, and your appreciation of people’s work.
It makes you less smart.
As your isolation from people and the world is getting easier, you need to choose to connect more in your own life.
You need to set habits of connection.
You can’t be everywhere or see everything but you can choose. Your choice of who, or what, you connect with is an important habit for leaders.
It’s easy to spend time with those people and things you like. You don’t need to think about it, your brain will take you to them. You’re connected already.
What you need to think about are the people or things you don’t like, that are also important. Who, or what do you need to connect with.
“…as your isolation from people and the world is getting easier, you need to choose to connect…”
We all have a circle of people around us, family, friends, people who serve or do things for us.
Who’s in yours? How many do you know?
At least know enough to speak to? Or just be friendly with.
You have things we use or buy or interact with apart from work. The grocery store, a social or sporting club, public transport, a school.
Which ones do you know how they work or make their things or do you just use them?
At least enough to describe to a visitor how they work?
Be curious about things you’re not attracted to.
If you’re shy to ask then Google it. You’ll be amazed how complex the world really is.
Get to know people who aren’t your friends. At least be friendly and respect them as people.
Talk to the cleaner or shop assistant.
Make it a habit
Your life and your worldview and the team you will lead one day will all be better for it.
Plus you’ll take those habits with you when you become a leader.
Why Connect?
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“I might be wrong, but at least I’ve thought about it…”