The modern business is both an evolved state based on human limitations, and a designed system, influenced by human needs. It is also still an actively evolving system and seismic shifts like the personal computer, Generative AI, pandemics, and more are radically re-shaping businesses, and leadership as we speak. To your point, it will be years before we see what the outcomes are, but we are living in the between times now.
RC, you just nailed it, as far as I'm concerned. That distinct feeling of being "in the between times" is exactly how I perceive it as well.
One of the beauties and curses of complex systems is that cause and effect are not only unpredictable a prior, they are also usually displaced in time and space. All this to say that I agree with you—we'll see how it plays, but we won't necessarily be able to connect all the dots. :)
"Why would you build a company that is like every other?" — Human psychology. It is easier (and feels safer) to do what others do. To follow the herd. It is the default operation model that we all have learned from early on. The one that takes the least energy to operate on.
Doing something fundamentally different requires deep thinking, reflection, work, energy, and willingness to take a risk. The potential upside is gigantic but unknown. Therefore, when shit hits the fan, humans (and therefore leaders, too) often retract to the safe model that is tried and tested over decades.
But I can see the change. More people are willing to go that extra mile, to try revolutionary things and discover new ways of building companies.
Reminds me of this quote: "I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better." — Georg C. Lichtenberg.
What a beautiful comment, Tobi. Capped with a powerful quote I had not yet read before. A win all around!
Of course, I couldn't agree more with your perspective here. Maybe the winds of change are quietly starting to blow and gather speed. Maybe. At the end of the day, those of us who believe in better can only focus on what we can control—ourselves and how we show up.
Your part reminded me of corporate rebels https://www.corporate-rebels.com/. they have a lot of stories and case studies about different ways to run a company.
I'm a big fan of Corporate Rebels, and their quest to create massive awareness for progressive organizations and ways of working. A large part of what I do with my writing is for the same mission as theirs. :)
Interesting outlook on efficiency. Never tried to quantify it for a business before :)
Do you have a recommended article/talk by Toby?
The biggest shift for me happened after reading 'No Rules Rules', about Netflix. They broke the pattern, in most of the 7 points you mentioned (how compensation works, budget, vacations, and so on). Highly recommended!
I highly recommend Tobi's appearances on The Knowledge Project podcast, with Shane Parrish. Those are some of my favorite podcasts. This article is also a good exploration of his mind: https://www.theobservereffect.org/tobi.html
And funny you should mention Netflix in this context. Not only it's a great observation that I fully agree with, I actually wrote about it in depth here a few months ago:
The modern business is both an evolved state based on human limitations, and a designed system, influenced by human needs. It is also still an actively evolving system and seismic shifts like the personal computer, Generative AI, pandemics, and more are radically re-shaping businesses, and leadership as we speak. To your point, it will be years before we see what the outcomes are, but we are living in the between times now.
RC, you just nailed it, as far as I'm concerned. That distinct feeling of being "in the between times" is exactly how I perceive it as well.
One of the beauties and curses of complex systems is that cause and effect are not only unpredictable a prior, they are also usually displaced in time and space. All this to say that I agree with you—we'll see how it plays, but we won't necessarily be able to connect all the dots. :)
Thank you for your comment!
Thanks for sharing. I agree SO much.
"Why would you build a company that is like every other?" — Human psychology. It is easier (and feels safer) to do what others do. To follow the herd. It is the default operation model that we all have learned from early on. The one that takes the least energy to operate on.
Doing something fundamentally different requires deep thinking, reflection, work, energy, and willingness to take a risk. The potential upside is gigantic but unknown. Therefore, when shit hits the fan, humans (and therefore leaders, too) often retract to the safe model that is tried and tested over decades.
But I can see the change. More people are willing to go that extra mile, to try revolutionary things and discover new ways of building companies.
Reminds me of this quote: "I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better." — Georg C. Lichtenberg.
What a beautiful comment, Tobi. Capped with a powerful quote I had not yet read before. A win all around!
Of course, I couldn't agree more with your perspective here. Maybe the winds of change are quietly starting to blow and gather speed. Maybe. At the end of the day, those of us who believe in better can only focus on what we can control—ourselves and how we show up.
Thank you!
Your part reminded me of corporate rebels https://www.corporate-rebels.com/. they have a lot of stories and case studies about different ways to run a company.
Good catch, Ferito!
I'm a big fan of Corporate Rebels, and their quest to create massive awareness for progressive organizations and ways of working. A large part of what I do with my writing is for the same mission as theirs. :)
Interesting outlook on efficiency. Never tried to quantify it for a business before :)
Do you have a recommended article/talk by Toby?
The biggest shift for me happened after reading 'No Rules Rules', about Netflix. They broke the pattern, in most of the 7 points you mentioned (how compensation works, budget, vacations, and so on). Highly recommended!
Hey Anton, thanks for your comment!
I highly recommend Tobi's appearances on The Knowledge Project podcast, with Shane Parrish. Those are some of my favorite podcasts. This article is also a good exploration of his mind: https://www.theobservereffect.org/tobi.html
And funny you should mention Netflix in this context. Not only it's a great observation that I fully agree with, I actually wrote about it in depth here a few months ago:
https://hagakure.substack.com/p/twh54-unshackling-the-organization
Thanks! Added the article to my reading list. Any of the episodes in particular of the podcast, that discuss this topic?
And thanks for the reference, I'll read that article too! See you in the comments section there :)
This bit I referred to actually is found in another podcast. Here it is (timestamped):
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Pvt6nvd9hW7J0MA2FUnvt?si=JdIjilDFSGiFP8gWimtcYg&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A6NiOBjhBvbklc8pBaOdc2Q&t=1707
Thanks! It was a great listen