The Leadership Lab summary

There’s no doubt that being constantly connected to the internet has perks. Gone are the days of having to look up facts in a book or wait weeks, sometimes months, for messages from friends and loved ones. 

Now, we can Google anything at any moment and contact people instantly, no matter where they are in the world.

Have you ever heard the saying, “Everything’s not as it seems?” If you have, bear in mind that it’s not just applicable to, say, tricks by magicians and illusionists. It’s a friendly reminder to take a closer look at what you think you see, and to prepare to be potentially surprised.

This also applies to something of much more consequence than a magic show – the world’s economy. It may be true that money makes the world go round, but if you pay attention you’ll realize that the world of money doesn’t turn at the same speed, or even in the same direction for everyone.

Earlier, we had a look at how technology has given us access to more information and, as a result, made us more distracted. But this isn’t the only negative effect that technology has had on us.

Not only do we have access to more than we know what to do with, that access is also instant and incredibly convenient. We order food and transport at the touch of a button, swipe through potential soul mates, send and receive money without having to step into a bank, and so much more.

How often do you go online and find yourself reading angry status after angry status from people airing their frustrations about neighbors, service providers, politicians, and everything in between? The world seems to be getting angrier, and while the internet is a popular outlet, it’s definitely not the only place where anger plays out.

For example, according to the International Air Transport Association, incidents of air rage increased from just over 9,000 in 2014 to almost 11,000 in 2015. And in 2016, England’s National Health Service reported over 70,000 physical assaults on healthcare workers, which was an increase of over 2,000 from the previous year!

Even if you haven’t read Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, chances are you’re familiar with the story. In it, we meet a gifted scientist, Dr Frankenstein, who experiments with creating life and eventually succeeds. But there’s a problem – his creation turns out to be a literal monster that he’s unable to control. Needless to say, the story doesn’t end well for anyone.

Though this story was written a little over 200 years ago, there's a lesson in there that’s still relevant today. We live in an age of rapid change and constant advancements in technology, and while some of these are good, there’s always the potential for things to go very wrong.

Imagine that you have to put together a baseball team. You do your research and find the best players around. When it’s time for the game, though, you only put half the team on the field, leaving some of your bases and field positions empty.

Under these conditions, would losing the game then come as a surprise to you? Of course not. Using half the team means losing out on the potential and skills of your other players. This lesson is especially important where gender is concerned, and is something leaders need to keep in mind.