Fancy gadgets won’t save the polar bears

“Why do you work for this company?”

We were in the middle of a well-known exercise called “Five Why’s”, looking to get to a deeper understanding of motivations. My co-worker Nicholas had just asked me the second “Why?”, and things were already getting pretty intense.

“Why do you work for this company?”

I have to acknowledge upfront that there is an element of inertia that keeps me in my job. I’ve been with Domain7 for over seven years now. It’s familiar territory for me, and that familiarity is comforting. But, truthfully, that’s only a small factor, and it isn’t that motivating in any case. I certainly don’t want to stay at a job simply out of resistance to change.

So, why do I work here? The answer just came out:

“I work for this company, because I want my children to have the chance to see polar bears.”

The puzzled look on Nicholas’ face confirmed it: I had to explain this a lot more.

In his book The Ingenuity Gap, Thomas Homer-Dixon argues that problems facing society today are emerging at a scale, pace, and complexity that is outstripping our ability to implement solutions. Countless studies have shown that the rate of change is accelerating, with no signs of slowing down in the foreseeable future — and that this is happening in parallel with increasing networks of interconnectivity. Systems scientist Peter Senge sums this up well when he states:

“Perhaps for the first time in history, human-kind has the capacity to create far more information than anyone can absorb; to foster far greater interdependency than anyone can manage, and to accelerate change far faster than anyone’s ability to keep pace.”

This certainly paints a rather bleak picture of our current state. We are overwhelmed by increasingly complex challenges that are emerging faster and faster. Not very comforting — at least if we assume that this means we’re doomed, that there’s nothing we can do to break through the onslaught of complex problems coming our — and future generation’s — way.

I choose to believe that there is something we can do. Something I can do.

But how does my desire or ability to battle complex challenges, such as climate change, connect with my workplace and why I work there?

I work at Domain7. We develop digital solutions for our clients. A lot of our work is highly technical — and you might be waiting for me to tell you how fancy gadgets and technology is going to save the world. Not so fast! While I’m not downplaying the tremendous influence and potential of technology, I don’t believe that technology itself will save the world.

In this fascinating interview, tech entrepreneur Anil Dash is very clear about what drives the realization of technology’s potential, stating “we’re still sounding our way through incorporation of technology into our lives. And it always does come down to — what are our values? And what do we care about?” While technology is an extremely powerful tool, human values and meaning remain at the core.

Here’s the thing about technology: it’s not an end. It’s one means to an end. It’s a tool that we can use to create solutions, but in coming up with these solutions, we need to take a profoundly human approach.
I believe there is one word within Senge’s quote that hints at part of the answer: “anyone”. No single person can keep up with accelerating change or new information. Yet, perhaps, collectively we have a fighting chance.
Our greatest hope in addressing the challenges facing society today lies in our ability to work effectively together. Our understanding and awareness of challenges, as well as the solutions and tools we create, are directly dependent on our ability to engage compassionately, and work productively, with other people. This is not easy. This is not about existing entirely within our echo chambers, or only speaking to “our tribe”. It’s fundamentally about connectedness and empathy with other people. It’s about working together to create tools that are good for people and for society. How can we possibly do this if we don’t listen? If we don’t connect? If we don’t embrace inclusion and collaboration?
Which is why I work here.

At Domain7, we strive to embrace empathy and co-creation in how we work, from the first to the last step. Whether we’re exploring a user journey, hosting a workshop on design thinking, or developing a product: we understand that our clients and end users bring powerful knowledge and insights.

This emphasis on empathy and connectedness also extends beyond work processes, influencing how we show up in interactions with co-workers and clients alike. We’ve come to understand that what we create is only part of the overall impact of our work. How we create, as a team and with clients, may generate ripples of impact that radiate well beyond the solutions we come up with.

I’m under no illusion that Domain7 will singlehandedly solve the world’s problems. But if we can foster empathy and connectedness, it is a meaningful contribution towards addressing society’s deepest challenges.

Oh… what does any of this have to do with polar bears?

For me, polar bears are powerful representations of two significant challenges facing our planet: environmental degradation and climate change — two issues that threaten their very existence in the wild. If my children grow old in a world that still has wild polar bears, it will have been because groups of people came together and applied their collective genius and aligned values in pursuit of a shared vision of a better future. If I can help set the stage for that, even in small ways, I want to do what I can.

What about you? Why do you work for your company? What are your “polar bears”?