Sunday, February 28, 2010
Why work doesn’t work anymore.
While you’re at work today working on work you couldn’t get to during the work week, take a few minutes and watch this. You may not be able to incorporate this process into your place, but you will absolutely identify with the problem. (From AdPulp.)
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4 comments:
While I agree with an overwhelming majority of what he had to say, especially his description of the workplace as being a home for interruptions, I have issue with a series of his points.
Specifically: his perception of what is classified as “important” is a product of his opinion and his industry. Further, his contention that things are not very important and can wait, is narrow and entirely personal. And his suggestion that it is an act of arrogance to interrupt someone is a product of social views, not business realities. Further, his conversation regarding the product being the leader and that there is no true hierarchy is tell tale that he is crafting an environment reflective of his personal values.
Now, as it's his business, there is no true issue here. If he chooses to operate as such, that is his decision. However, it is unrealistic to presume it could be effective in all places. It is naive to assume that a lack of hierarchy would work elsewhere, because the product would lead you and it would never be so arrogant as to presume to interrupt you.
People like this crack me up. In my line of work, we meet and we interrupt because the decisions we make are critically important. If I don't answer a question in a timely manner --and that time frame is determined by my customer-- big issues very well may arise.
In the world long lead-time advertising, marketing, product development, etc., this may work. In the business of defense and aerospace, industrial manufacturing, global commerce, the military and/or law enforcement, and so many more industries ... his presumed understanding of the modern workplace is woefully out of touch and would yield disastrous results.
Now, crafting an environment that is best suited for your team's project is fantastic. And I don't argue that his comments about interruptions are inaccurate. However, he seems to posses a very cynical, narrow view that borders on smug and detached.
I invite him to come shadow me for 40 hours.
“In the world long lead-time advertising, marketing, product development, etc., this may work.”
But this IS specific to the advertising/design fields and captures perfectly what happens.
In a business/industrial setting, it likely won’t fly. That’s the core difference though between creatives and everyone else: The interruptions we get are typically from non-creatives, (account people, etc.) 9 times out of 10, it’s not over important shit. It’s from people who need to be reassured constantly because they can’t deal with how creatives think.
I guess I didn't get that because he didn't say it. Perhaps his thought was interrupted by some arrogant person with a question that didn't really matter.
Or maybe he's so creative that I should be able to figure out he meant his industry when he said "the modern workplace."
Perhaps the article shouldn't have been entitled: "What's your take on the typical workplace?"
*sniff*
Smell that?
It's snark.
"Everyone I know. I don't care what business they're in..."
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