Monday Metaphors for the FoW

Each year, I like to challenge myself by doing something new that I've never done before. It forces me to take risks, be comfortable with not knowing the answer, and break the habit of my daily routines.

 My challenge for 2020 - 52 weeks of Monday Metaphors for the Future of Work (Fow).

 Metaphors are powerful tools for teaching and learning because they create a connection between two seemingly dissimilar things by recognizing parallel traits. I often use metaphors with my coaching clients and in my classrooms to explore concepts, draw insights, and extrapolate ideas. 

The use of Metaphor dates back to the famous Greek philosopher Aristotle, who wrote about metaphors as a way to make learning pleasant: "To learn easily is naturally pleasant to all people, and words signify something, so whatever words create knowledge in us are the pleasantest." [1]

Metaphors also stretch our creativity muscle, which is a critical skill for the #futureofwork. Using metaphors in learning ignites creativity in three ways: 

1) Comparing two dissimilar things changes your perspective and opens up new thinking; 

2) Examining ideas in a different context generates insights from new angles; and 

3) Reaching for the unknown challenges your deeply held orthodoxies about how things work. 

In short, metaphors push you outside of your comfort zone.

 In 2020, I'm imposing a creative challenge on myself to write an article every Monday of the year to generate new insights for the Future of Work. So much is changing about how work gets done, yet we still have so much to learn. Here are my two goals:

1. Build my creativity muscle and develop new insights about the FoW.
2. Share and co-create these insights with the LinkedIn community. After all, we are stronger together!

My first post will be up tomorrow, January 6, 2020! Join me for 52 weeks of articles on LinkedIn to add your ideas, submit requests, and crowdsource new thinking. After all, what's old is new.  #mondaymetaphorsfow

  [1] Aristotle, W. Rhys Roberts, Ingram Bywater, and Friedrich Solmsen. Rhetoric. New York: Modern Library, 1954.