Stumbling Progress is Still Progress
Humans often make decisions without learning from history's valuable lessons. We implement superficial solutions that look good on paper but lack concrete metrics to measure their actual impact. And we're shortsighted, failing to consider the broader, long-term implications of our actions.
Take the workplace, for instance. Despite decades of evidence about the perils of excessive meetings, we still hold conferences when there's critical work to be done. It's almost as if we've forgotten the CIA's 1944 Simple Sabotage Field Manual, which advised saboteurs to disrupt productivity through unnecessary meetings.
Then there's our tendency to prioritize optics over substance. Look at the ongoing issue of hiring discrimination. Companies have hired diversity officers, provided training, and diversified their boards – yet these measures haven't significantly reduced discrimination against Black applicants.
And what about our myopic view of the future? We obsess over market share, even though research shows it has little impact on profitability, especially in digitalized industries. This short-term thinking leads to dark design patterns that trap users within platforms, sacrificing their interests for the sake of growth.
So, what can we do? Should we strive to learn from the past, meticulously measure our actions, and broaden our perspectives? Or should we accept that humans are fundamentally flawed and prone to repetitive mistakes
Perhaps the answer lies in a balanced approach.
We should learn from history, but not dwell on it. We should measure our progress, but remain adaptable. We should consider long-term implications, but not lose sight of the present.
And above all, we must forgive ourselves and others when we inevitably stumble, for that is the nature of our imperfect humanity.
