No Man Is An Island

No man is an island, entire of itself. John Donne wrote that in 1624, and it’s never been more true.

We are wired for connection. Not just socially – neurologically, biologically, spiritually. We are not designed to function well in isolation. We function best in community.

And yet so much of modern life is organised around the individual. Individual achievement. Individual productivity. Individual success metrics.

I’ve been thinking about this in the context of organisations. The most effective ones I’ve worked with are not the ones with the strongest individuals. They’re the ones with the strongest connections between individuals. The best networks. The most trust.

Talent matters. But connected talent compounds. Isolated talent dissipates.

The question for any leader is not just ‘how do I develop my people?’ It’s ‘how do I connect my people to each other, and to the people outside our walls who can make them better?’

No man is an island. And no organisation should try to be one.