September 1, 2023
Antimatter principle, Article, Business, Capability development, Culture change, Needs
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The Clock Is Ticking on Embracing the Human Element

The Clock Is Ticking on Embracing the Human Element

Happy business people laughing against white background

The Elephant in the Conference Room: Ignoring People’s Needs

For far too long, organisations have viewed employees as cogs in a machine rather than as human beings. This reductionist approach not only hampers productivity but also affects mental health, employee engagement, and overall job satisfaction.

The Antimatter Principle: A Revolution in Organisational Thought

The Antimatter Principle posits a radical idea: attend to folks’ needs. It’s as simple as that! Introduced by software development philosopher Bob Marshall (FlowChainSensei), this principle points out that the most effective, efficient, and humane way to get things done and make decisions is by attending to the needs of all involved.

This approach invites us to consider what people actually need to perform their jobs more effectively and to feel more engaged and satisfied in their work. The Antimatter Principle encourages organisations to actively listen to employees and other stakeholders, which can lead to new, innovative solutions that might have otherwise been overlooked.

The Invisible Hand of Market Forces

Historically, organisations have been slow to adapt, mainly because they’ve been focused on short-term gains and immediate metrics. However, we’re seeing a growing body of evidence that suggests businesses who invest in their people perform better over the long term. These organisations report higher job satisfaction, lower turnover, and increased innovation.

But when will attending to folks’ needs become the norm rather than the rarest of exceptions? This is a difficult question to answer definitively. Market forces such as competition for talent and increased consumer awareness around company ethics are nudging businesses in this direction.

The Slow Wheels of Change

Even with this shift, it might take a few more years or even a decade for the majority of organisations to adopt people-centric approaches like the Antimatter Principle fully. It’s worth remembering that organisational change is often slow, and embracing a new philosophy involves multiple layers of complexity, from C-level executives to entry-level employees

It must be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things.

~ Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

This ubiquitous quote encapsulates the essence of why change is often slow to come, particularly in organisations. Machiavelli highlights the challenges and risks inherent in initiating change, which can explain why many organisations are hesitant to adopt new approaches like the Antimatter Principle, even when such philosophies could lead to more engaged employees and better business outcomes.

Paving the Way for a Paradigm Shift

To speed up this process, it’s essential for industry leaders and visionaries to champion the benefits of attending to folks’ needs. The more case studies we have that prove the effectiveness of such strategies, the quicker we’ll see a widespread adoption.

The Final Countdown

So, when will we routinely see organisations realising the benefits of attending to folks’ needs? While no one has a crystal ball, the winds of change are undoubtedly blowing. Whether it’s in five years or fifteen, the adoption of philosophies like the Antimatter Principle seems less a question of ‘if’ and more a matter of ‘when’.

Further Reading

  1. Marshall, R.W. (2013, October 12). The Antimatter Principle. FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/10/12/the-antimatter-principle/
  2. Marshall, R.W. (2013, October 13). The Antimatter Principle: The Metaphor. FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/10/13/the-antimatter-principle-the-metaphor/
  3. Marshall, R.W. (2013, October 14). A New Frame. FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/10/14/a-new-frame/
  4. Marshall, R.W. (2013, October 15). Roots. FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/10/15/roots/
  5. Marshall, R.W. (2013, October 16). A Finger Pointing at the Moon. FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/10/16/a-finger-pointing-at-the-moon/
  6. Marshall, R.W. (2013, October 20). Poka-Yoking the Method. FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/10/20/poka-yoking-the-method/
  7. Marshall, R.W. (2013, October 25). One Principle, One Agendum. FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/10/25/one-principle-one-agendum/
  8. Marshall, R.W. (2013, October 26). The Tyranny of Method. FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/10/26/the-tyranny-of-method/
  9. Marshall, R.W. (2013, October 28). Who Needs Retrospectives? FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/10/28/who-needs-retrospectives/
  10. Marshall, R.W. (2013, October 28). Who Needs Kanbans? FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/10/28/who-needs-kanbans/
  11. Marshall, R.W. (2013, October 29). What Are Needs? FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/10/29/what-are-needs/
  12. Marshall, R.W. (2013, October 31). Pointless. FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/10/31/pointless/
  13. Marshall, R.W. (2013, November 7). Looking After Each Other. FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/11/07/looking-after-each-other/
  14. Marshall, R.W. (2013, November 8). For the Rational Folks. FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/11/08/for-the-rational-folks/
  15. Marshall, R.W. (2013, November 13). Breadcrumbz. FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/11/13/breadcrumbz/
  16. Marshall, R.W. (2013, November 15). The People vs. System Conundrum. FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/11/15/the-people-vs-system-conundrum/
  17. Marshall, R.W. (2013, November 21). The World as One. FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/11/21/the-world-as-one/
  18. Marshall, R.W. (2013, November 30). Our Mutual Friends. FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/11/30/our-mutual-friends/
  19. Marshall, R.W. (2013, December 2). Change, Kotter, and Antimatter. FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/12/02/change-kotter-and-antimatter/
  20. Marshall, R.W. (2013, December 4). Finding for ƒ. FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/12/04/finding-for-%c6%92/
  21. Marshall, R.W. (2013, December 11). It’s Mutual. FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2013/12/11/its-mutual/
  22. Marshall, R.W. (2014, January 28). A Vocabulary for the Antimatter Principle. FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2014/01/28/a-vocabulary-for-the-antimatter-principle/
  23. Marshall, R.W. (2014, March 17). The Antimatter Decision Filter. FlowChainSensei. Retrieved September 1, 2023, from /2014/03/17/the-antimatter-decision-filter/

And there’s a whole passel of other Antimatter Principle posts, right up to the present date. You can find them through the WordPress categories feature, using the link: /category/antimatter-principle/?order=asc

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