Avoid the Trap of Becoming a Cog in a Machine: Be a Lifelong Learner
Most of us are cogs in a hyper-optimized business machine. I know I was early in my career.
I needed my colleagues in product, marketing, and technology to deliver any real business impact. “What value do I have to the business world as an individual?” I often thought nervously. Without my fellow cogs, I was unable to drive real outcomes, at least at the enterprise level.
Cogs are necessary for machines to run fast and efficiently. But, cogs are a commodity and easily replaced—we’ve seen that with each wave of workforce disruption. Companies that hire and train employees to be cogs are equally at risk of becoming irrelevant.
People who invest forward in their skills are those that thrive. Those that accept their roles in a corporate machine are those that get left behind. The same goes for companies that fail to invest in their people beyond their current roles.
How to Become a Lifelong Learner and Avoid Becoming a Cog
So how can individuals and companies avoid the trap of becoming and building a workforce of cogs? Below are some of the themes and focus areas we infuse into our manager training programs. Consider adopting one or more of the following:
Be a Dot Connector
Technology and AI in particular are rapidly automating more and more of the work at all companies. As Som Shahapurkur told me recently, “Generative AI automates the mundane” but can’t yet make connections across disciplines. Step outside your role and function and connect your work with that of other departments and functions. Invite a colleague to lunch who works in a different division or function. Ask them what they do day to day, how their work intersects with yours, and how they deliver value to the organization.
Think Like a CEO
CEOs by nature and necessity are big picture thinkers. You should do the same. Step out of your day-to-day role and consider how your efforts are moving the needle for the entire organization. Better yet, ask yourself what changes you could make in your current job to optimize company performance, not just the output of your role.
Learn Outside the Lines
Most peoples’ learning efforts are spent on job and function specific tasks—”cog” specific learning. Learn outside the lines and deepen your knowledge about adjacent functions. If you are a developer, learn about product development and marketing and maybe even sales. Doing so allows you to deliver more value in your role and to the company as a whole.
Peek Around the Corner
The job you are doing today will look much different in the future. That’s guaranteed. Stay ahead of the curve by looking at adjacent industries for what tech is being adopted and how it’s being applied. Also, identify changes in go to market strategies, workforce trends, employee preferences, and modes of working and look for ways to apply them in your current team.
Make Learning a Goal
Most successful people have annual goals. Most, however, don't have learning goals. Add learning goals to your list of yearly, quarterly, and monthly goals. Ask yourself what skills, knowledge, behaviors, and experiences you need to develop. Invest time to consume books, courses, YouTube videos, and blogs while expending effort in cultivating mentors and joining peer-to-peer learning groups.
Take Action Today
Being a cog is a race to the bottom—the lowest cost wins (think offshoring). Worse yet, cogs are ultimately expendable. Avoid the trap of becoming and building a workforce of cogs by making a commitment to continuous growth and lifelong learning. What’s one change you can make today to ensure your skills and those of your team stay relevant?
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