In an age of accelerating change and complexity, leadership requires more than traditional planning – it demands a mindset of rehearsal. This principle framed my recent conversation with Mimi Brooks, CEO of Logical Design Solutions, on her Bold Agendas podcast. Our discussion spanned the evolving role of ecosystems, the dual edges of innovation, and the critical importance of adaptability and resilience. Together, we unpacked strategies for thriving in an unpredictable world and explored the transformational shifts leaders must embrace to navigate 2025 and beyond.
Continue readingAdaptability
The Haier Approach: Structurally Aligning Organizations With The Ecosystem Era
A recent article describes an astonishing achievement enabled by an ecosystem mindset. In 2016, Haier, the world’s largest appliance manufacturer headquartered in China, acquired GE Appliances. As author Bill Fotsch states: “What followed was nothing short of astonishing. Market share, which had languished around a mere two percent for the previous four years, skyrocketed to 20 percent. Haier had achieved what GE could not: a resounding success in the appliance market.”
Continue readingWhat Should My Children Study in School?
As a keynote presenter and futurist, I am frequently asked by parents the pressing question: “What should my children study in school to thrive in an increasingly automated world?” In an era where technological advancements are rapidly reshaping the job landscape, my response emphasizes a balanced education that cultivates foundational skills like critical thinking and emotional intelligence, embraces STEM and digital literacy, and fosters adaptability and lifelong learning. Additionally, I advocate for focusing on human-centric fields, entrepreneurial abilities, ethical reasoning, and global awareness. By integrating these elements, we can equip the next generation with the tools they need to not only navigate but also shape the future of work and society.
To test the appropriateness of my response, I asked ChatGPT how it would respond. Here is the response:
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Unlocking Human Potential – Thriving In A World Of Change
This series concludes by examining what it takes to thrive in the era shaped by the forces of knowledge (part one), invention (part two), and the second scientific revolution (part three). As these transformative forces unfold, organizations and societies must go beyond mere adaptation and learn to flourish amidst constant change. This section delves into the essential capabilities and strategies needed to navigate and actively shape our collective future in this new era of unparalleled opportunities and challenges.
Continue readingUnlocking Human Potential: The Convergence Of Knowledge, Invention, And Societal Transitions
In this four-part series, I embark on a journey through the annals of human progress, exploring the intricate convergence between knowledge, invention, and societal transitions. I trace the democratization of knowledge from the dawn of language to our current era, examining how pivotal inventions have not only expanded our capabilities but reshaped the very fabric of civilization. As we stand on the brink of what could be a second scientific revolution, I delve into the dawn of a new age of invention, potentially rivaling or even surpassing the remarkable progress of past eras.
Continue readingThe Human Paradox: Resistant Yet Resourceful In The Face Of Change
James Suzman aptly observed: “History reminds us that we are a stubborn species: one that is deeply resistant to making profound changes in our behavior and habits, even when it is clear that we need to do so. But it also reveals that when change is forced upon us, we are astonishingly versatile.”
Continue readingLiving In Uncertain Times
The title of an upcoming presentation I will deliver next week is “Adapting to Uncertainty.” It should be very clear by now that we live in extremely uncertain times. I maintain that the world has not been this uncertain since a series of twentieth century catalysts established our modern day. The reason lies in the similarities between our current times and that period decades ago. The world back then experienced uncertainty across multiple domains: science, technology, society, geopolitics, economics, and business. The breadth of change occurring across those domains made the period one of the most turbulent in human history. The uncertainty of our current world did not just emerge, it has been years in the making. As it did in that earlier period, the convergence of multiple forces created the current environment. In studying those forces, our ability to adapt became a central tenet of my thinking, alongside seeing the future and continually rehearsing it.
Continue readingDisrupting The Way We Travel
Put bluntly: The infrastructure we have in one era isn’t the infrastructure we’ll need in the next.
Devin Liddell – A futurist predicts the 3 biggest disruptions to how we’ll travel
That quote from a recent article can be applied to anything. For example, the institutions created in one era are not suited for the next. In the article, Futurist Devin Liddell looks at what he believes are the three biggest disruptions coming to travel. He begins by looking at the transformative changes existing infrastructure will struggle to support. First, as mentioned in an earlier post on urbanization, seventy percent of the human population is projected to live in cities by 2050. Second, climate change is poised to wreak havoc on cities, ninety percent of which are coastal. Lastly, the phenomenon of blurring boundaries takes the world of physical infrastructure and merges it with the digital domain.
Continue readingThe Journey: Living In Times Of Transition
In the wrap-up to my series titled “A Journey through the Looking Glass”, I will cover why this story is so important to me personally. As was described throughout the series, we live in a time of considerable change. A period that in my view only has a few historical precedents. I could be completely wrong, as I am not a believer in prediction – but the risk is too high to ignore. Through the years, as I have told versions of this story, I sensed that my audience felt no compelling reason to act. They had low levels of urgency when compared to challenges they faced day-to-day. It was that lack of urgency that pushed me towards more effective storytelling to change perception.
Continue readingThoughts On Adaptability And Resilience
As mentioned in my recent posts, it was 2017 when I participated in a discussion with TCS CTO Ananth Krishnan and CIO extraordinaire Hassan El Bouhali. An animated video was produced to capture a dialog that was initiated as part of an online leadership course focused on the future. The first post launched segment one, which focused on Seeing the Future. The second described the need to relentlessly Rehearse the Future. Given the number of shifts likely to occur, and the pace at which they arise, our ability to adapt is of utmost importance. Here is the abstract for this series followed by the final segment focused on adaptability and resilience.
ABSTRACT: Perspectives on the Journey
A key message in the Reimagining the Future body of work is that our rapidly emerging future challenges every aspect of how we do business, how we govern and how we live. It will drive significant strategic, tactical and structural changes and fundamentally alter our long-standing beliefs, success strategies and institutional constructs. We’re already seeing it. Just look at companies like Amazon, Uber, Airbnb, Tencent, Google, Alibaba and Facebook. They are rewriting the rules and redefining how value is created and captured, using digitally-centered platforms and ecosystem-enabled business models.
As complexity and pace continue to intensify, uncertainty increases and volatility comes to the forefront. Our daily challenges do not disappear however, making the balance between pragmatism and future thinking critical. I invited two business leaders to share their insights and perspectives on the complexity of this transformative journey and the leadership challenges that emerge.
The Five most Important Job Skills of the Future
In a recent Article, author Bernard Marr describes the five most important job skills of the future. A conversation that is tightly linked to the role of education, and a topic I have explored in Several Posts. Mr. Marr states that the pace of change is being driven by several factors. He paints a picture of an interconnected world that allows us to work remotely and with people from different cultures as easily as if they were in the office next door. The Healthy Extension of Life allows us to work longer, creating an age-diverse workforce. Combined with science fiction becoming reality, machines suddenly augment our skills and free us up to focus on higher-level activities.
Reimagining the Future 