Unseen connections | Digital Letterpress: Part 18
Over the past few months, I’ve written a lot about leadership and its impact on organizations and individuals. But what about things that impact leadership? John Maeda believes two such areas that offer great impact to leadership moving forward is art and technology. These two things seem like strange, possibly-disconnected things to impact leadership, but the more I think about it, the more I agree.
Art and technology share the commonality of creation. They both need inventors, idea-makers, constructors. One does not “make” art without going through a distinctive creation process that requires thought, planning, and execution. Technology, in much the same way, requires its makers to always look forward and invest time, effort, and money into creating something that doesn’t exist, or improving something that would seem like it couldn’t get better.
Within both of those mindsets lies the serious take-away for leaders. In today’s society that is increasingly centered around technology, it’s important for leaders to act with that same creativeness and forward-thinking. Artists and inventors see the world differently from anyone else, seeing things that “normal” people can’t see, and that vision would help improve a leader’s potential and effectiveness. Technology often is the result of connecting two things together that seemingly would never be together (take a phone, computer, television for example). Someone with incredible vision saw those various media devices in the palm of his or her hand and set out to make it reality. Leaders acting under the same out-of-the-box mindset will be able to make the same valuable connections and decisions.
Although I have been consistent with my updates for a few months now, I’m afraid my regular schedule will be interrupted for a while. During the summer, I more than likely will not have a chance to update Digital Letterpress often. I would like to thank everyone who has read my thoughts during the last few months. It’s an honor being able to share them with you.
