TED Talks Daily The human skills we need in an unpredictable world | Margaret Heffernan
Aug 1, 2019
In this engaging discussion, Margaret Heffernan, a writer and entrepreneur, argues for the necessity of human skills in an age dominated by technology. She emphasizes the value of imagination, humility, and bravery in navigating uncertainty. Heffernan illustrates how over-relying on efficiency can stifle adaptability and warns against losing interpersonal connections. Through compelling examples, she advocates for fostering strong relationships and embracing failure as a learning tool to create the future we desire.
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Supermarket Efficiency Failure
- An American supermarket chain replaced team supervision with an algorithmic task allocator for efficiency.
- The system failed to handle unexpected events like spills or sudden high demand for specific items, proving that efficiency alone is insufficient.
Complex vs. Complicated
- The world is shifting from complicated to complex, making forecasting difficult beyond 400 days.
- Small changes can have large impacts, and expertise is less reliable because systems change rapidly.
Just-in-Case Preparation
- Shift from just-in-time management to just-in-case preparation.
- Develop multiple solutions, even if some seem redundant, to increase robustness and adaptability.