There’s an increasing amount of literature, including some very powerful books, covering this topical area. All reference /support or re-position the scenario, of A2I [Advanced Artificial Intelligence] possibly , in the not too distant future, surpassing general human capacities, enough to control or “rule’ us….like “HAL” in the old movie epic “2001- A Space Odyssey”. But with enough astonishing things already possible, and being done, in many professions, that the fundamental ?’s, or issues, already worked over, in literature and art, are very real. They require much more exposure, dialogue, and personal experience. I have been in technology, and people handling, all my life, but only have read sporadically of AI, now A2I .Will change that in this 7th phase of my life, the Legacy phase…….more to come…..
On 11/7 @ Cantigny in a return presentation: GenM – A Deeper Dive, Truls Henriksen covered again his review of the literature, and we held a brainstorming exercise on how to respond to this deepening trend…how to “embrace it” rather than lament it! This was an assignment for all participants from two organizations “Commencing” their internal LLF there. We will follow up to capture as many of the ideas/comments as possible, to continue this exploration. It’s a major issue everywhere I am.
Your insights, & suggested tactics are welcome
Fall is wonderful in New England. The attached photo hints at its color, its serenity, its holistic-ness. Past photos, shown still in the archives on this page of my evolving website, show different seasons, all with their own purpose/meaning.
May yours, in your leadership aspirations, be as fulfilling as possible!!
The two photos shown below are of the first larger size Inukshuk I just did, in our back yard as it sloops off to the dammed up river and conservation area we live on. Building such a Sculpture Garden has been a fantasy goal of mine for years…..ever since moving to Cape Cod ten years ago, actually! The general write-up is also attached, as an explaination. Some of you have seen one or more of the smaller Inukshuks, which I’ve given as personal gifts, to family, clients, friends. Our evolving Sculpture Garden includes other pieces Barbara and I have aquired over time, and will contiue to do so. This Inukshuk is to celebrate our life here, and the many already in the hands of others.
I have been in Systems/technology all my professional career, beginning in 1959 when a Department I was the manager of, was automated by the then called Data Processing Group. Later I was one of the 11 founders of the Society for Information Management in 1968 [SIM]. Trying to anticipate future advantages of existing or new technology was, & is, always an elusive challenge. Perhaps, relatively speaking, it’s never been any less of a difficult responsibility than now. But is seems like there’s more research, more choices, more potential paths of deployment than was the case earlier in our industry’s short history.
For some time I’ve been a subscriber of Ray Kurzweil’s Weekly AI newsletter, which highlights a broader & more current span of research, venders, organizations, then many of the other publications I read. Having read years ago, reported on, and explained to others, my resulting conclusions from his book “The Singularity is Near”, I’ve always been intrigued by his views, and his extensive network of connections.
Especially , more recently I’ve begun “connecting the Dots”. He uses the verb “convergence”. Gartner’s March 2014 report uses the phase “nexus of forces”. Doing so is very provocative. Perhaps beyond some people, even scary or thought impossible
When you do this integration today….there clearly seems to be an explosion in the depth, pace and impact of technology, which excites, and sometimes overwhelms me. I hope many more of us are on that journey of understanding and preparation! It’s fundamental!!
In a recent LLF, hosted @ Seyfarth Shaw, with Pierce & Assoc. I.T. professionals, two participants presented Viktor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning”, in an outstanding coverage, that everyone, even those of us who’ve read it several times, can benefit from! It’s an LLF “core book” [ i.e., continually grows with you as you grow!!!], and a favorite referral reading for many of us. Enjoy their perspective and research. They brought the classic Forum “Magic”, intensely to that session!
I have often used this exercise in LLF’s [just did in one!] to foster participants’ exploration in areas of potential growth, or change, that are not front and center, in their current busy, interrupt driven professional lives. Ten minutes quiet, then 20 minutes more discussion.
“There is an Eastern belief in the value of acquiring knowledge or insight, not through action, but by the silence and stillness of introspection and reflection……. Can you do this? Do you understand that others can with powerful results? How might you incorporate this idea in you own leadership growth?
Of course, an intense, sometimes surprising, often deeply useful discussion follows. Which also always “integrates” ideas/perspectives from earlier speakers, book, exercises, in a “magical way!! Usually there are at least a handful of participants who practice some personal process of introspection or reflection, and are willing to share their benefits/techniques. A thunderously valuable 3o minutes.
On 3/20 I talked about creating your own magic as an Internal Consultant, recognizing the “Color of a Dollar”, or perceiving what will bring bottom line value to the organization, using the “magic” of individual, open, connections, with multiple others, collaborating across functional lines. For ANY organization. The flyer describing this presentation, and the more detailed handouts are posted under “Documents”, under “Magic’ on this website. There were many graduates of my Leadership Learning Forums and of SIM’s Regional Leadership Forums present, who resonated with this perspective. It was a fun interaction, and is adding to the “Wood-lore” being shared about that “magic” on this website
I just returned from an uniquely designed LLF for clients of the hosting organization, SmithBucklin Corp. Of course the Forum process includes more reading, beyond the participant’s field, than many current business leaders are accustomed to…. thus the ?’s. My current reading list, with some historical data, is a frequent handout [Post 130 Reading 3-11-2014],in Forums and the “Core Books” list [Post 290 Core Books 3-10-14] is also reflective of my evolving focus.
The photo below is from our deck out to the lake we front on, which has been in other past videos [click here]. It’s from 2/16/2014. Having just returned from a week in the Berkshires with Barbara, where they had 2 feet of snow, but know well, how to handle it, we were surprised by 9 inches here. A “panic” on the Cape. The two swans [ just perceptible out there] seem to enjoy it!! Hopefully it won’t inhibit my travel to Chicago Wednesday 2/19, to run a Leadershi0p Learning forum there for two clients together. Which is generating it’s own special “Magic”!
Heavy snow falling now, which usually paralyzes the Cape… & is particularly abrasive after a week with Loma Linda University Health in California, helping them commence their first Transformational Leadership Program [TLP 2013]. It was held symbolically, near the historical center of their huge Campus, with many of the senior LLUH leaders who spoke or facilitated, during the program, attending. The participants in TLP 2014 attended the last two days of the program, to capture and assimilate the proud energy/commitment/gratitude of the graduating class! Awesome to be part of this power, for everyone, but surely for me, experiencing it again so soon [referenced in the blog on 1/22/14 below]. So genuine leadership lives there, is being shared broadly & deeply!! And as seems the pressing case all over, in ways that is needed for today’s challenges.
Cape Cod doesn’t handle snow over 2-3 inches as well as Chicago does….where I just came from. Lucky to get in here. I helped “Commence” the third Leadership Learning Forum [LLF] there 1/17-18/’14, @ SmithBucklin Corp., sponsored and led by Henry Givray, their CEO. A spectacular process, deep & broad learning/growth, powerful bonding by all participants/speakers, wonderful gifts & memories, unique energy and commitment being carried forward both personally & professionally! With uniquely positive organizational impact. Lots of “Magic”!!
Most note-ably, for my own continued growth & learning. I’ve been involved in perhaps 250 LLF’s since 1984. This one was at the top or close to it!! A joy and solid pride for all to be part of!!!
I will travel to Loma Linda University Health, in San Bernardino, next week to help “commence” there, their first such LLF, which has had, so far, a lot of the same results/impacts, and “magic” as referenced above.
Much of this website is now dedicated to helping bring that about more frequently, more predictably, as referenced below, especially the evolving section “Magic”
We’ll see.
