Getting the best out of people

Susan Cain's TED Talk: The power of introverts is a must watch for any business leader, teacher, or researcher. Actually, if you're human, you should watch it.

The talk is insightful, funny and thought-provoking but I think the most important point she makes is this:

"The key to maximizing our talents is to put us in a zone of stimulation that is right for us. But... our most important institutions –our schools and our workplaces– they are designed mostly for extraverts and the extravert need for lots of stimulation."

But my point is really not about creating a pro-introvert environment. It's about creating the right environment –the right system, process and methodology– for the situation. Some circumstances need to be extravert-friendly while others should be designed for the introvert. Many need to be balanced for both.

I can't help but wonder what kind of innovation and creativity would be sparked if we backed-up from all of our business (or education) methodology, process, structure, departmentalization, and systematization and simply looked at the two things that really matter:

1. what's the problem we're trying to solve?
2. who are the people that can help us solve it and what do they need to do their best work?

If we started from those two questions, would the same processes be occupying the drivers seat of modern institutions?