3 lies we’re telling ourselves about work

A senior leader at a global company recently expressed a common sentiment, stating that despite a solid strategy, good talent, and scaling growth, "something still feels off" within their organization. This feeling stems from decisions being made based on outdated assumptions about talent, artificial intelligence, and culture, rather than current realities. Analysis of over 1.5 million workplace data points over 35 years reveals a recurring pattern where sound strategies and capable people are undermined by a distorted view of reality, impacting organizational design, employee behavior interpretation, and responses to emerging technologies. The first persistent myth identified is that "bigger is better," a long-held assumption that scale equates to success, opportunity, and stability. While larger companies can still offer these benefits, unchecked scale often introduces distance from decision-making, meaning, and the sense of impact. Gallup's latest global workplace report indicates that only 20% of employees are engaged, reflecting a widespread disconnection that is often structural in large organizations.