GPS's, Learning and Leadership Dependency

I think GPS's make people less open to learning.

Finding your way used to be the way it was in life. We would look at maps, call people for directions, stay alert for landmarks. We would have to talk to more people, have more relationships and be open to learning the route. It would keep us in the state of not knowing. This is good for us. Life is all about learning. Learning and growing and developing.

Now with GPS's, you can drive, talk on your cell and follow directions all at the same time! Some would say this is progress. It could be argued it is more efficient, however I think it makes people less aware of their world. It makes you feel like you know it all. I can drive from any airport to any client with a GPS and feel confident I know where I am going.

I think this builds a false sense of security into people. At work, we often don't know what to do. But there is no GPS at work..or is there? The leader is a GPS. So people don't learn to think on their feet, but rather become more dependent on stuff outside of themselves, such as their leaders.

When they first came out, I refused to buy one - because I was too cheap - but now it is out of principle. I like asking for diretions. I like getting lost - it keeps me connected to the environment around me, it allows me to discover the world I am traveling in and teaches me to be self-sufficient.