I have been around for a while. Long enough to have witnessed and experienced a wide range of changes in approaches, technology, and attitudes. Long enough that I smile when I hear someone refer to “old school” thinking. Generally, not meant as a compliment. It connotes an unwillingness to acknowledge change or accept progress. Post-pandemic, some managers can’t reconcile that employees can be as efficient when working from home. “Can” being the operative word. There are plenty of cases where that is not the case.
From a personal perspective, “old school” is a return to fundamentals. Considering what was successful in the past. Openness to approaches that might have been more efficient (and less sexy) before the wholesale introduction of technology. A client recently shared that her team was overly reliant on computers for presentations and analyzing the data included. The team could not reconcile that a presentation was just the means of communication. The slide deck was not the purpose but a tool to help communicate the message. They were also taken aback when the calculations were challenged. Her “something does not look right” approach was met with an incredulous look.
In the face of ever more technology and a race to automation, maybe it’s time to bring back some “old school” thinking.
Text Me
There are appropriate times for texting. The text-speak, shorthand, and abbreviations can be useful but in many cases are wholly insufficient. Feedback is one of those cases. Face-to-face and one-on-one feedback is still going to be the gold standard. Research shows that 52 points of feedback throughout the year are needed to truly make a difference. Dedicate the time to provide feedback to your team members – individually, when needed. Schedule time to provide feedback or a 1:1 career conversation with your manager. The message will be clearer and more effective in both directions.
That’s What the Computer Calculated
Computers are just a tool. They calculate according to our inputs and formulas. They do not think. We need to get back to questioning and thinking for ourselves. I recently asked a client about overhead rates used for bidding projects. The response was absurdly low. When challenged, it was revealed that he did not really understand the basic components of the rate. The program provided a number and there was no sanity check. That had the potential for a disastrous financial outcome. I continue to advocate with my clients (and kids) to think first, understand how numbers work, and have an idea of the logical range of answers.
Maybe I’m naïve and we are never going back to basic, fundamental thinking when we have AI to do it for us. I would rather slow down. Think it through, have conversations, and leverage human intelligence to make progress. As Bob Vila made the phrase famous – “think twice, cut once.”
What are your favorite “old school” approaches to getting the job done?
As always, you can reach me at MRiegel@AECBusinessStrategies.com.
Michael Riegel