HR map of the day - time to widen your circle

The map below, initially posted by Reddit user valeriepieris, made the internet rounds last week, so perhaps you've seen it. Or perhaps not, as we seem often in the HR online space (me included), debating about cultural fit and performance reviews and the difference between SaaS and hosted applications, and other such nonsense, when chances are at least more likely information like in the map below will have a more profound and significant impact on our businesses in the next decade.

So here is the map, and then we can discuss what, if anything this should mean to those of us in the Talent game.

So for the US-based Talent pro, this might be kind of surprising, I know it was surprising to me. We know that the world is supposed to be shrinking, but in a way this map doesn't really bear that out. Rather it shows pretty simply that the center of population is on the other side of the world, and packed into a relatively small area. 

So what might this mean, or what might you need to be thinking about with this map in mind?

If you are an older, established company that is having a hard time finding opportunities for growth in your domestic market, then if you are not looking to play inside the circle in some way - then you are effectively cutting out half of the world's population and potential customers.

If you are a newer Talent pro, then chances are sometime in your career you will either need to understand the talent pools inside the circle, or perhaps even have to spend some time working inside the circle yourself. Maybe not today or tomorrow, especially if your shop is in some kind of truly local business. But do you really think you will be working there forever? No time like the present to start preparing for both of those possibilities. 

Last, if you are a parent, or perhaps plan to be a parent one day, this map is just another representation of the fact that the world our children will inherit and have to make their way in will be substantially different than it was even one generation ago. That has probably been true of all generations, but that doesn't give you a pass to ignore what is happening in the world today and to think about how best all of us should be preparing those rock and roll loving young whippersnappers.

So take a look at the map, think about (at least for a few minutes), what it might mean for you. Then, if you must, resume tweeting about how companies need to be more social and how employee engagement is good. 

Somehow, I think all that stuff will mean very little when compared to some of the really big changes happening in the world.

Note: If you need or care about the rough population estimates that back up this conclusion here they are:

World pop: 7+B, so the circle must have more than 3.5B people in.

China pop: 1.33B

India pop: 1.25B

Indonesia pop: 0.25B

Japan pop: 0.13B

Thailand pop: 0.07B

Bangladesh pop: 0.14B

Pakistan pop: 0.19B

Malaysia pop: 0.03B

Philippines pop: 0.095B

South Korea pop: 0.04B

Total from above: 3.524B

New Geographies

I am a huge fan of maps.  I used to spend hours reading maps, studying the pages in my Atlas, yet ironically I get lost all the time, and most people that know me well say I have a terrible sense of direction.

And they would be right, I do have a terrible sense of direction.

Map making and map reading are sadly becoming kind of a lost art I think, particularly since the rise of online services like Mapquest and Google Maps, and more recently with the widespread availability decreasing cost of GPS technology.  No need to really understand the environment all that much when you can easily get turn by turn directions from the internet, and dashboard GPS systems can soothingly talk you through your journeys. It is my hope that these 'talking' GPS systems can get smarter though, offering up some insight along the way.  'This is the last Dunkin' Donuts you will pass before your highway entrance in 1.3 miles, so if you want a coffee, you better stop now'.

It is an improvement I suppose, and a comfort for the many of us that are geographically challenged.  These capabilities save time, provide assurance, and largely take the risk out of getting from Point A to Point B.

But on the odd occasion when the Google Map is wrong, or the GPS can't grab a signal and we are back to having to resort to 'old' methods of navigating often are the most interesting and potentially valuable. I think we underestimate the benefit of finding our own way.

Shannon Rankin - see note below

I recently heard a very sound piece of advice that was given in the context of the introduction of a new workplace technology that would significantly impact the methods and work processes of a large number of employees. The advice was essentially:

'Don't tell the employees all of the detailed and wonderful new features of the technology, but rather get them started, give them a guide, and allow them to discover all of the potential and real benefits of the new tools.'

I think that was great advice, when a major change effort is underway or a new technology will force people to find a new direction from Point A to Point B, simply handing them the step by step directions and navigating for them will only be partially successful. Sure, most all of them will arrive at Point B, but will any of them have an opportunity for exploration? Will anyone drive off the main road and poke around a bit?  Will anyone be encouraged enough to chart a new path, one that may get them to Point B faster or having discovered some interesting and possibly valuable sights along the way?

And perhaps Point B is not the only, or best destination at all?  Sticking to the 'script' would almost never allow that kind of insight to be gained.

Whenever I have to go to an unfamiliar place I usually print off the Google Maps directions marking the way. I follow them step by step and almost always arrive where I need to be.  But the Google Map never encourages me to take a detour, stop and look around, or even to reevaluate if I should be going to my destination in the first place.

I think the next time I have to go somewhere new, I think I will try old fashioned way, grab a map from the gas station and have a go.  Of course if I get very badly lost I will have to fire up the GPS.  I could never ask someone for directions, I am a man after all.

Image Note: I came across the artwork of Shannon Rankin from a post on the Junkculture blog. This piece is from the 'Maps' series where the artist deconstructs maps to create new geographies, suggesting the potential for a broader landscape.

Find out more about Shannon's work here.