The "Right" Path Forward

some thoughts on the right-brained future of tech

I was chatting with an amazingly talented musician this week - who also happens to be a colleague of mine. I am fascinated by how many musicians found their way to tech, and how many of them find that the overlap in skills between music and tech is much higher than you might think. This conversation did not change my thinking.

Whole New Future

In 2006, Dan Pink wrote A Whole New Mind. In this book, he argues that the future belongs to those who can think creatively and empathetically - that right-brainers will rule (eventually) the world. Eighteen years later, I think his words are even more true.

Yesterday while recording our 203rd episode of AB Testing, Brent said:

I actually believe that the number one skill of the future is the ability to quickly learn and apply something new. And you won't know what that new is.

I don’t give Brent credit very often, but he gets a hundred internet points for these two sentences. I’d build on his statement and say that the future will be dominated by those who have the hunger to seek out new information, then learn it and apply it. Nearly every accomplished artist I know are curious and bold and empathetic - and I think that’s for a reason.

Since that recording (~20 hours ago), I’ve been re-reading A Whole New Mind and it’s kinda blowing my mind with how right it feels. Pink leads an early chapter of the book with the difference between “left-brain” and “right-brain” thinking.

The left-side of the brain drives things like logic, sequencing, facts, and linear thinking. Factory work (and some software teams of decades ago). The right-brain, on the other hand drives things like creativity, empathy, and systems thinking. Pink recognized that in a world growing into knowledge work, that these skills would become more and more valuable.

The Future is Now

In his fortune-telling, Pink states that automation and out-sourcing will replace many traditional left-brained activities. While the jury is still out on whether automation and outsourcing are gaining traction, it should be obvious that generative AI fits well into his thoughts. To paraphrase what I, and a thousand others have said - AI is not going to take away any jobs - but people who know how to use AI effectively may.

But it’s not just AI - solving real customer problems through design thinking, conversational design, story telling, and focusing on meaning and outcomes are the realm of right-brained thinkers. The one-solution focus on outputs of the left brained thinkers will be left behind (and will undoubtedly be the demise of many tech companies).

It’s Always a People Problem

More importantly, are the human skills that come from the right side of the brain. Yesterday, Mako shared a quote (and shared it widely today) about how a friend described their job as, “solving people problems being masked by technology problems” - which of course, reminds me of the famous Jerry Weinberg quote, “No matter what the problem is, it’s always a people problem.”

The truth of these statements is why right-brain dominated people are so needed in tech. The technology and workforce are changing. Gantt charts, TPS reports, and long lists of requirements, and other absolutes are fading. The future will be driven by those who have human skills like empathy, self-awareness and curiosity.

A few of the things I learned in music work well in human interaction. In the various groups I played in, when someone said, “Let’s try x” - we always tried x. It didn’t matter if it was Bach or Bowie - lots of little experiments is how music often goes from good to fantastic. These micro experiments could happen in rehearsal, or in improv, in real time. If you want to build a culture where people love to try things, make mistakes, and learn, go with the right-brainers. Right-brainers like to try shit.

More importantly, however, is the human aspect of art. Practicing active listening - both while talking with other artists, as well as when performing with them translates well to working with software teams. Egos and attitudes are prevalent in both tech and the arts - but the difference (for me, at least), was that it was fully expected as an artist that we engage, discuss, collaborate, and seek feedback from my peers. Tech can (and will) learn a lot from those practices.

Wild Ideas?

I’ve said a few times before (perhaps never here) that the best software developers of the future will be liberal arts majors who excel in some sort of programming bootcamp. Those who can think in systems, see things creatively, and solve problems through collaboration will be the ones who invent and advance the future.

Somewhere, someone on the internet is screaming SCIENCE (in my head, it’s just as you hear it said in Thomas Dolby’s, She Blinded Me With Science). There isn’t going to be a takeover of the tech industry from a bunch of artists and musicians who were selected to the right house by the sorting hat. In fact, there’s a bit of a myth of the right vs. left brained person. Some people are more analytical and logic focused, while others are more inclined to creativity and empathy. That part is true - but it may not be true which parts of the brain drive that. Most people, it turns out can do some combination of both, and most people can learn to be more creative - or a more science-y approach.

But that doesn’t change the punchline. Those of you who can deal with humans well and know how to acquire knowledge effectively will be the ones who I expect to save our Jack Welch rule-following that’s-the-way-we’ve’always-done-it, shut-up-I-know-what-I’m-doing organizations from sinking further into a pit of despair.

Coda

Back when I used to play music more, I was good enough - but not great. I enjoyed playing with other musicians who I could learn from through music. Time after time, I’d get invited to play with a group, and I’d ask some form of the “Why Me?” question. There were far better players around, and while I eventually learned the music, I would typically fumble a lot at first. My favorite answer to “why me” still sticks in my head today.

“You can play anything, you’re not a jerk, and you try shit”.

Turns out, decades later, that’s sort of still who I am.

-A 2:3