connect the dots

Many businesses are focused on whatever the latest technology [e.g. LLM, GPT] is going to bring. But too many workplaces don’t even have the basics in place. There are large organizations with no knowledge management function. How do they share knowledge across a global enterprise? They don’t. Many companies have not mastered the basics of conducting meetings, something for which there are many good practices. There are ‘learning’ departments that only focus on courses and formal instruction, ignoring performance improvement, collaboration, and social learning.

Instead of chasing the latest shiny new business fad, get the basics in place. Decades of research behind Self-determination Theory shows that people need autonomy, competence, and relatedness to fully commit to their work. Forcing them to get back to time-wasting and polluting commuting to work kills any sense of autonomy. Sitting in an office does not result in relatedness.

If the basics are not looked after, there is no foundation for innovation.

Innovation is not so much about having ideas as it is about making connections — connect the dots