Learning from Experience and History--Finding Patterns that Work

Speaking with a friend the other day, I shared some meta-models that identify patterns at work.  By being aware of these patterns of behavior, positive changes can be made to improve processes, workflow, and results of organizations.  Two of these meta-models are the Team Tracking Tool (Slide 12) and the Shame Affect Decision Model (Slide 2).

These models capture processes at work that allow for the identification of what works and what may be missing or improved at work.  They were developed by observing hundreds of hours of interactions and have proved reliable over time.  In the course of our conversation it became clear that sometimes leaders in the workplace do not want to be made aware of these processes or be responsible for being able to make decisions to change what they are doing at work.

The idea of learning from experience and history are the essential ideas in my post from yesterday concerning animal spirits and the economy.   The concept is also reflected in Dan Brown's two books, Angels and Demons and The DaVinci Code.  I saw another example in a documentary today Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.

The challenge is to reflect on our experience and on history and to learn from these reflections.  Models of processes can help in this process and, if leaders are not willing to engage in the reflection and learning process, they miss opportunities to improve and change.  These opportunities may have a small window of opportunity as the economy and world events change around them.