On The Demise of Things

Age, experience and instinct have conditioned me to be skeptic of articles that begin “Recently, someone asked me about the future of…”.

Yet I chose to read one such entry because it dealt with Learning and Development, a process I’m deeply involved with professionally.

In essence the author stated that corporate organizations will have to yield their programs and actions to the far personalized experience. Individuals, not companies, will decide what, when and how to become skilled, competent and experienced, as well as accountable for results.

So far nothing new, I thought, but then a phrase “triggered” me: something along the lines of “people no longer want to be forced into classrooms and be spoon-fed content”. Yikes!

I designed and delivered my first corporate training course when I was 20. My last course took place a few days ago. In that span of time, honestly, I cannot recall a time when it felt forced, or when I elected to spoon-feed anything.

I believe that in-person learning, in a classroom setting and with a facilitator, can be as engaging, entertaining and deeply enriching as any other format or medium. Success in learning depends on many variables: vision, topics, techniques, number and background of the participants, the environment, timing, materials, etc.

Back in the 90s I was working in the head-office of one of the world’s largest and most successful airlines. And what a time: we were adding new generation aircraft, amazing routes and destinations, state of the art cabins and premium seats, new airports and terminals, etc. Everything meant billions of USDs in investments for decades to come.

Around that time, Video Conferencing reached the point where, while still expensive and in early versions, the reliability of the technology made it justifiable for medium and large companies.

And, as today, “experts” from many fields were sentencing the demise of the airline industry as we knew it. Why would frequent travelers subject themselves to the hassle when they could have their meetings from the comfort and convenience of their offices? (Notice that working from home was still tabu).

Today, billions of us have high quality and free video conferencing in the palms of our hands, and the world is traveling by air more than at any time in modern history!

One example of many announcing the extinction of professions, services and activities, supposedly being replaced with technology. It just doesn’t happen that way: technology enhances, expands and develops new and improved versions, for the most part.

I guess if someone was, hypothetically speaking, asking me about “the future of anything” I would remember that example and state something like this:

“I’m excited that technology, as well as ever evolving trends in society and culture are offering more options and choices than ever. Whether for work or personal pleasure, in a multi-generational and diverse world, we can develop and deliver the best experiences in as many ways as people decide that value is created and obtained”.

Your thoughts, comments and reactions are most welcome.