Original Thought.

I'm sure I've had some. I think it was in the 70s, but then I'm not sure it wasn't organically enhanced? Original thinking, innovation, creativity and seminal newfangled practices are expected from all levels of employees today as the factory model slowly sunsets. This no doubt raises the anxiety level of all who see shortcomings in such areas. I wish I was as creative as Steve Jobs, as smart as Warren Buffett, as organised as Bill Gates, as polished as George Clooney and as erudite as Malcolm Gladwell are verbalisations for many trying to figure out the new expectations. For most employees in the workforce, it takes time, an increase in skill levels, practice, meditation, mind exercises, not to mention a good haircut. Nothing comes easy, except to some, it seems.

The perception everyone has something to offer in the above is an exhausting thought to most, as 90% of the day is taken up with menial tasks while waiting on inspiration to strike from the blue, all the while trying not to attract the attention of the boss. Yes the new boss, who reads all the magazines online and who now only wants to hire creative, innovative and thought provoking staff. Everything we read, everything we view and everything we hear, seems to come from online media where the achievers dwell. Seems you are behind the times if you haven't had a million hits on your own Youtube video, tweeted 10,000 insights to your million followers, designed an app in your spare time and are halfway through publishing your first novel, while blogging on the advantages of open source coding.

It seems everyone in the digital world has the capability and expertise to launch satellites into space while updating their Facebook profile, all before morning tea. Companies are expecting levels of creativity, thought leadership and original thinking from their employees that aren't achievable for most, and even if it were, the chaos and disruption it would cause the normal running of the company would be too great to sustain productivity. It's the keeping up of the high levels of thinking and innovation, exhausting for most, that is adding to the anxiety of job risk, from the next digital native walking through the door.

Change caused by such disruption can catch even so called innovative companies by surprise if they fail to keep up. No one for example, 5 years ago, would have picked global phone companies Nokia, RIM and Motorola, who controlled nearly 70% of the smart phone market to be also rans to Apple and Samsung today. As ambiguity, chaos and change increase, the pressure on employees to function within this new environment and produce sizzling results becomes such, that many back out and look for pastures requiring less inspiration with less mental aptitude. Companies need to be careful about expectations they put on employees, if they want to keep them long term. If you are in the car industry, why didn't you invent Zipcar, if you are in the publishing industry, why didn't you invent Kindle and if you are in telecom why haven't you got at least 6 Apps in your top drawer ready for the morning's meeting? That's the message playing in the heads of many and paralysing many more.

The corporate world is changing so quickly, with work space designed for innovative thought processes, team oriented management without offices to provoke creative collaboration and ceding to young minds for original thought. No wonder a large demographic of the work force feels pressured by the "can't teach an old dog new tricks" looking backwards in nostalgic glances at the 3.30 factory whistle.