NextGen Leadership

A landmark Harvard/BCG study reveals that while AI boosts creativity, it causes high-performers to drop by 19% on problem-solving tasks. The danger lies in the "Jagged Frontier"—and the tendency for humans to outsource their judgment to a machine that is confidently wrong. Introduction The narrative around generative AI is centred around it being an engine for productivity that functions as a super-intelligent intern, raising the floor for low performers and raising the ceiling for high performers. However, a 2023 study by Harvard Business School, Wharton and BCG reveals a more nuanced reality. While AI has largely boosted performance in the domain of creative tasks, it caused high-performing consultants to perform 19% worse on problem-solving tasks compared to those working without the use of AI. This is largely a human problem, as those consultants making regular use of AI tools risk falling asleep at the wheel. The Jagged Frontier At the core of this problem is th...

For decades, the "SMART goal" has been the gold standard of management. However, research reveals that specific targets often trigger unethical behaviour and cap potential rather than boosting it. Introduction For decades, the “SMART Goal” (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) has been the bedrock of management. The logic is linear: if you want an employee to achieve something, give them a specific number and a deadline. However, a controversial 2009 paper titled Goals Gone Wild presented a paradigm shift. The researchers argued that goal setting is not a benign tool for motivation, but a "prescription drug" with dangerous side effects. When applied incorrectly, specific targets often cause more serious organisational damage than having no goals at all. The Tunnel Vision Effect The primary problem with specific goals is that they work too well, thus narrowing focus. Psychologists call this "inattentional blindness." When the br...