A Steady Job Makes For Increasing Ignorance

Having a “steady job” means folks’ needs for safety and security are most likely (by definition) being met. In such situations, where does the need for learning new things, keeping abreast of industry developments, and innovating in the way the work works come from? 

Note: A “steady job” is one that is routine and pays a decent but not a high amount of money. It is also a safe job. In the software development business, most steady jobs also pay very well.

Two places:

1. The job demands these things (very rare to never).
2. Intrinsic motivation.

I regular meet folks in steady jobs, from junior developers through to senior and C-suite managers and executives, all of whom are woefully ignorant of what’s happening in the software industry, of new discoveries, and of know-how published since 2000-ish (and many times, even earlier).

Do organisations care? I doubt. Maybe if they did care they might do something about it?

And how about your job? Is it steady? And how up-to-date are you with e.g. what’s happening in the software industry, of new discoveries, and of recently published know-how? What would it take for you to pay some attention in this space?

– Bob

Further Reading

Rother, M. (2010). Toyota Kata: Managing People for Continuous Improvement and Superior Results. Mcgraw-Hill.

Chin, R., Benne, K.D. and Bennis, W.G. (1969). General Strategies for Effecting Changes in Human Systems. Holt, Rinehart and Winston Inc.