Reducing Friction in Work Starts with Psychology and Sociology Not Technology

Companies are always seeking ways to reduce friction in work. Doing so saves time and ultimately reduces costs and increases profits. And although process change and new technology certainly help, the biggest barriers are the ones in human interactions.

The reality is that inside our organizations we’re mimicking the competitive external environment of business. And unfortunately, nothing kills innovation and creativity more than a system that supports things like having to constantly and continually defend your ideas, your work, having to promote yourself, fight off criticism, make allies, and navigate your enemies.

We can spend so much time being formidable that what makes us valuable gets buried under the weight of Darwinian politics, hurting both individual and company.