How do you define ‘common sense’ as it applies to organizations?
In the workplace, common sense is the ability to see an issue from multiple points of view and form an opinion based on that. Most companies only see the world from one point of view — from an ‘inside-out’ perspective. The reality is, you also have to see the world from the outside-in. Common sense is very closely correlated with empathy — the ability to put yourself in the shoes of another person and feel what they are feeling.
The reason why common sense is at such a low right now, both organizationally and socially, is that too many people are not interested in seeing things from another point of view. We live in a very selfish culture — and that is amplified within organizations.
You believe technology is intensifying the lack of empathy. How so?
First of all, we live in a screen-based culture that generates rational ways of thinking. We seduce ourselves into believing we’ve done our work if we’ve had eight calls and produced two PowerPoint decks. But all of that work is rational. The opposite state of being is
