LIKELY I WAS A “CONTROL FREAK” MOST OF MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE,.TRYING TO KEEP IT UNNOTICED ?!?!? NOW…. WITH CD-19, PLUS DEMONSTRATIONS IN MANY CITIES, PLUS MY OWN ADVANCING AGE [ NOW WELL INTO MY 87TH YEAR]…..”CONTROL” IS CLEARLY NOT USEFUL, NOR EVEN POSSIBLE. ANYMORE, IN MY VISION. HOW DOES ONE RESPOND? WE WATCH/LISTEN/READ/BE AWARE……ADJUST !!… AND WAIT. REQUIRING PATIENCE & HUMILITY. NEVER TWO OF MY STRONG SUITES. SO TIME TO REALLY LEARN SOME BASICS, @ LEAST FOR ME. MAYBE OTHERS…….
With CD-19 still not fully understood [1] by most of us, plus the equally broad, deep feelings, or views manifested in the [2]demonstrations/ riots, and as many businesses struggle to pick up [3]where they would like……normal.,expected, or even “New Normal”, that is, mostly unknown!!…….. is not descriptive enough. Basic re-think seems necessary. This of course requires “un-learning” beyond the thoughts, habits, attitudes, many of us grew up living by! Such change is very hard for individuals, and often harder for groups, and organizations. Where can innovation help? How much is enough? Is this situation different? Are we willing to pay the price?………@ the pace required……..??
AND with what connections?……..
Maybe in its last month, more will show, as the summer season begins. Likely also uncertainty re. influx of tourists/seasonal families, etc. States, cities, towns, even beaches, all with different rules/protocols. Most thinkers in my network say……..just watch, listen to multiple sources, stay agile, expect surprises in areas/topics heretofore not planned for!!!…sometimes building on each other outside of the current reality ….and sometimes close to others who seem not to care @ all re. personal hygiene, or “mandated rules”. Yes a very different world for any business/operation/life process to be “normal”. How much change can we handle individually/in groups??
McKinsey & Company just published a paper “The analytics academy: Bridging the gap between human and artificial intelligence” – Sept. 2019. It’s superbly provocative, regardless of whether you agree with their academy proposal. The basics covered are crucial…. The importance now of “Re-skilling”, as well as learning new leadership capabilities, and bringing in new skills….and joining this together internally, @ all levels!…and being fully aware of what else AI connects to/requires. Much to consider carefully, discuss and execute wherever possible…… a very big order…!!!
We shut down TDG Inc., as of 12/31/18 [a major change…much more than just an accounting shift!!]. Then traveled for an extended period to explore the option of Retirement…..relaxing…no contracts, nor retainer relationships. Then back focused in on life here on Cape Cod, as a Sole Proprietor, with all its ramifications…..like a new job, from my past life?!?
A work in progress. And a set of changes to this website reflecting that shift. As I move into my 86th year, believing more now, deeply in a different mantra:
more moving towards less
now moving towards deliberate
all moving towards choices
fast moving towards paced
intense moving towards balanced
My way moving towards include others
Hopefully it will show…………………..
Often it seems to me, the general press offers little but problems/ conflicts/negative views of mankind’s capacities or history. Of course part of the explanation is that it “sells better”……we want to hear/read it, apparently, so we get it! But I believe I’d prefer a a balance with more up-lifting events, trends, perspectives. For example, in Japan, physically disabled individuals now are hired to work with robots via eye tracking, engaging directly with patients and earning a useful wage! OR….Alpha Zero can now teach itself to play multiple games, freeing up experts to focus more on strategy, and thereby learning more about how human think!!.
There are many!!! So this provoked me to review critically, again, everything I read/subscribe to/ watch often/ check on my desktop screen… my whole “in-box” so to speak…..how might it change now…what other ways can I learn, keep up to speed or free myself up from old less useful habits??
I will ask many of you directly what is your experience/plan here……
With 5 G [yes-????] and AI [who knows how much we’ll see], and VR/AR, plus a trillion sensors out there collecting mountains of new data…..we may be able to impose together digital and “real” reality, in our professional/personal lifetimes.
A sort of John Madden football commentary/diagrams, spread out to represent our world……….
That surely impacts of bunch of things…e.g….. training……the need for lifelong learning for all….the way most meetings are conducted… physical travel,……etc., etc.
Apparently Walmart is already doing some of this…. we all need to ponder/discuss this possible future a great deal more. Continuously. Even if the questions are as unclear as the answers!!…well even more so!!!
“Life 3.0 Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” Max Tegmark 9781101946596
The title an the tag line caught my attention. As did people whom I respect giving it high praise [ Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk, Ray Kurzweil]. The author’s background and current position/work environment. The tale of contents, with a short summary @ the end of each chapter, and many teaching graphs/illustrations of key ideas/perspectives. My full skimming and selective reading, found tons of leadership capacities/maturities. It’s not an easy read. Only a piece @ a time…so I’ve returned the library copy and have ordered my own to mark up/reread carefully
We were never famous for being particularly empathetic to line business executives consistently, even to customers or others out in the marketplace. But today having a capacity for this leadership characteristic helps relationship building, and allows trust to grow in ways that eases the disruptive potential of many new technologies engulfing some business efforts. Perhaps few of us have read or studied enough, about how/when/why empathy is useful in deploying the output of System Groups. StrengthsFinders, one of the very best personal profiling methodologies available today, can help substantially in my opinion. AND……. developing an ability to practice broad empathy, especially when it’s not a natural flow, is an absolute must for would be leaders of technology use for organizational purposes
This turns out to be a frequent dialogue for counsel, for many of us. Both developing it and recognizing it! It’s usually a mutual focus
A very crucial organizational theme, in mt mind. Comes from another book about leadership and change…..”The Art of Change Leadership: Driving Transformation in a Fast Paced world” Cheryl Cran 4.8 of 5 multiple ranking comments in Amazon. I’d strongly suggest getting it for your own reading/reference/making it come alive. I am. Am also recommending it, quoting it, discussing the full meaning of the book title, in it’s macro implications, especially in micro/specific situations with clients, and graduates of my Leadership Learning Forum programs [perhaps 300 or more such groups now!!]
Answer in the “fullest sense”….. of your total input…. talk shows, magazines, newspapers, confidants, TV news, books, research papers etc., etc. This is more important than ever, with so many choices, “fake news”, endless opinions driven by deadlines, a requirement in most walks of life now, to “know more…understand well beyond your immediate chore list.
Some suggested guidelines: MULTIPLE – rely on more than several..push your search boundaries, as much as you can effectively…….. ROTATE – don’t get stuck in any channel, author, or viewpoint., w/o checking other views/sources……SETTLE on some respected /trusted “Readers” with different connections, who would easily discuss/explore together……ACCESS/EVALUATE periodically and carefully,for match up to your needs/ desires
Managing your input flow is one of every mature human’s most precious responsibilities!!
