Musings on my learning curve for 2010

I feel like I am on an island and bottles keep washing up holding incredibly interesting topics and ideas.  I wonder where they are coming from and how I can catch the mainstream that will take me to their source.   To mix the metaphor, isn't amazing how large the ocean of information is but how few we seem to come across that are using it's bounty...  We cannot implement or assimilate the great ideas fast enough.   Is there a limit to our ability to implement solid positive change?

Are we paleontologist of fossilized Information or explorers in an exciting information jungle.  Think Darwin on an informational Beagle voyage - We gather info, stick it in a bottle (file folder) with a label while studying the meaning of how it all fits together.  Gather living specimens as well as learn the history, then combine. How do we trace the best way to develop, implement and deploy into the organizational body higher quality and more effective ways to improve the workplace and lives of those that work there?

Can we determine the real DNA of an organization and set the course for change using valid science?  Ideas that worked well in the past still reside within us and pop to the surface until stress or time constraints - Quick, let's train them again! Use the same slides and script as before, set room in classroom style, limit breaks and make sure doughnuts and caffeine are there to entice them in.  

Yet the world of science, new styles of communications, and the work environment tell us maybe those actions may not be effective any longer.  Or at the very least, we need to find ways to modify them in this new environment.   Since the environment is always changing, how do we establish an ever evolving process of positive change?

The evolution of safety - from humble beginnings ("Put a poster, there") to organizational behavior, dynamics, influencing, brain research and complexity theory.  Meanwhile, a large number of us continue to do beautiful cave wall paintings (charts and graphs) to show others. 

Areas of current study - evolution theory, complexity theory, organizational dynamics, brain research, strategic planning - hell of a learning curve.

Check out www.brainrules.net/DVD for interesting thoughts by Dr. John Medina.

Nathan Crutchfield

Crutchfield Consulting LLC

www.ncsafetyandlife.com