Invisible Utilities

Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash

Time is an invisible utility.

I first heard this idea from the team that oversees the UK's commitment to UTC (Consolidated Universal Time), the Atomic clock synchronizing system.

I love this idea of an invisible utility.

We're all familiar with visible utilities.

Water. Power. Sewage. Trash collection. We have utility lines to upkeep and utility bills to pay.

We give an account of how we use physical utilities. It's this idea of benefit - some sort of gain or usefulness. Usually, we see the gain. Flip a switch, and the lights come on. Put the trash at the gate, and it's gone. The gain is clear and present.

But invisible utilities. They are still beneficial and yet, so much harder to see.

There is no physical change. No sensory input or output to quantify or qualify the invisible utility.

Like time, we certainly know when an invisible utility is used. We know when it's gone. Sometimes we're even aware of its usefulness. Other times, we're shocked to find there is suddenly a bill to pay.

So what are they? What are the invisible utilities we need to pay attention to as leaders?

Emotions.

Energy levels.

Cognitive ability - reasoning and problem-solving, and negotiation.

Trust.

Honor.

Respect.

Focus.

Presence and Attention.

These are all invisible utilities. There is a gain and usefulness to each of them. And a cost to pay when they're gone.

What are the most important and relevant invisible utilities in your role?

Which invisible utility do you need more of?

And what invisible utility makes you pay the most?