Running last night listening to my ipod, and the Pink Floyd song "Us and Them" starts. I was immediately reminded of the record it came from, and that got me thinking about technology and my life.
I was born in 1959. I remember records played on turn-tables at three possible speeds; 33 1/3, 45, or 78. One or two people had reel to reel tape machines. And for most of my childhood, that was where music came from. Then, as adolescence dawned, some adventurous Dads had 8 Tracks in the car, then cassette decks. As I reached my late teens, the first Sony Walkmans hit the market. Then the amazing CD in my early twenties. And now, with MP3, ipods, and downloading sites music is everywhere.
From a leadership perspective, we lead now in a time where technology changes at such a dramatic pace that we cannot predict what the world will be like in 2 years. And yet, the more things change, the more they stay the same. People still need to feel connected to a greater good, to have meaning in their lives, to feel that they are needed, and respected. They need to feel accountable and responsible.
As you lead this week, keep in mind that as much as the world around us is changing, we are still fragile creatures filled with fear and courage, apathy and empathy, fantasy and clarity, hatred and love. Creating environments in our workplaces where courage, empathy, clarity and love are more likely may be what leadership is all about.
Have a wonderful week,