Fit For The Future

Change can be challenging, especially with a resistant team. As a leader, you can help your team embrace change through simple, low-risk strategies that gradually make a difference over time. Start small and watch your team's mindset shift gradually.https://swiy.co/go-navigating-resistanceIs your team resistant to change or more open to embracing it? There’s a lot of change in the world outside, and if your team is resistant or slow to change, it’s difficult to navigate those external changes.This question came up recently when I was speaking at a senior leaders forum. We were discussing what it takes to be a future-ready leader, and a participant asked me about change. She has inherited a team that is resistant to change, and it’s been difficult for her to get them to think and act differently. She asked me for help.I told her there’s bad news and good news!The bad news is you can’t just snap your fingers and expect everything to change overnight. But the good news is that you can facilitate that change in a

Some people are surprised when AI tools like ChatGPT fabricate facts and information. But the problem isn't that AI can "make up" stuff; it's that people don't realise that's possible. When you understand this, you can blend human intelligence and machine creativity to get better results.https://swiy.co/go-creative-aiI was running an AI workshop last week with a business, demonstrating how to use ChatGPT and other AI tools.Some people in the room were surprised (shocked, even!) to discover that ChatGPT sometimes completely makes up information. I explained that’s why you always need to double-check and triple-check its facts.But some people think that’s a fault in the AI. Surely (they said) if it doesn’t know the answer, it’s better to say that rather than giving a false answer!That might be true, but there are some times when you want AI to "make things up". For example, if you’re:- an author asking AI to help you continue the action in a chapter- a screenwriter writing a screenplay asking AI to help with st

AI is already here, but many organisations are holding back to ensure safe, ethical, and responsible use. That's fair enough, but what are you doing in the meantime to get your people comfortable, confident, and optimistic about using it? Be proactive, so your people are ready when you're ready.https://swiy.co/go-ai-early-adoptionMany organisations are holding back on letting their people loose on AI – and sometimes for good reasons. They want their people to use it, but are still planning on how they can use it safely, ethically, and responsibly.Fair enough.But are you getting your people ready for that point?Let's contrast two healthcare companies.Company A is building their AI policy and strategy before they let their employees start using it. Healthcare is highly regulated, so they need to be careful about it. Also, so much healthcare technology and infrastructure is outdated, so it’s not as simple as just flicking a switch and turning AI on. So they are telling their people to wait.Company B is in a simi

If you're not already using AI actively in your team, it's time to take the leap. Don't wait until you have the perfect strategy and policy. Take small steps now to get quick wins, then move to small-scale projects, and eventually tackle the big initiatives.https://swiy.co/go-take-the-leapI was in Sydney last week, speaking at an international conference about thinking like a futurist.Of course, the topic of AI came up, as it always does. After my presentation, one of the attendees asked me,"In terms of AI globally, how ready is Australia for AI? How advanced are we as a country?"There are two parts to the answer.The first is that, on a global scale, we're not really doing that well. One report puts Australia at #31 in AI readiness - behind Malaysia, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Belarus.But the second part is that this doesn’t really matter! Instead of asking how ready Australia is for AI, a better question is,"How ready are YOU for AI?"For most organisations, our national readiness for AI isn't relevant. We're read

There are two quick and easy ways to get value from AI: boosting your productivity and enhancing your creativity. AI can efficiently handle repetitive tasks, freeing up time for more strategic work. It can also spark creativity by giving you more ideas for you to choose from.https://swiy.co/go-fast-and-looseAre you playing fast and loose with AI?Whenever somebody engages me to speak at their conference about AI, I also include in the presentation package a follow-up online session that shows them how to use AI in a practical way. So they get the high-level strategies at the conference and the practical tools and techniques in this follow-up online session.At one of those recent follow-up sessions, we had covered many practical examples of using AI. Towards the end, one of the participants asked me,“What are the top two things that you use AI for in your business? What are the must-haves that give you the biggest leverage and value?”I said,“AI helps me in two big areas: productivity and creativity.”This is wha

As a leader, how are you going with creating change in your team and in your organisation? I've been thinking about change a lot recently because I've been working with many leaders and managers, particularly in the AI space. AI has created a lot of external change, and many teams and leaders are looking at how to build their AI capability. I always say to them,"It's about people first and technology second. You can have all the technology in the world, but unless you get your people on board and build a culture where people are open to change, it's impossible to build that AI capability."The same applies to any other kind of change.I was running a workshop last week with a group of leaders - the executive team and their senior leaders - about building a culture of change. This wasn't specifically about AI, but rather about building a culture of change in their organisation.Many people don't think they are the obstacles to change, but they might be, often unintentionally. There are things they say that contri

AI champions are the new leaders in today's digital world. Find them, support them, and give them the right tools and resources to help them lead and transform how we work.https://swiy.co/go-your-ai-championsI was in Melbourne recently, speaking at a conference of executive assistants and personal assistants about embracing the digital revolution. When my client booked me last year, it was very much about all things digital - and now AI has taken centre stage.Whenever I speak to leadership groups, I ask them,"Who are the AI champions in your team?"In other words, who are the people who are keen, enthusiastic, excited about AI, and can lead AI in their team?But for this group of EAs and PAs, it's slightly different. For this group, I said to them,"I want YOU to be the AI champions in your team."Executive assistants and personal assistants are digitally savvy already. They are very good with technology, and many of the quick wins with AI come from boosting productivity with emails, spreadsheets, presentations,

To drive innovation and build AI skills, find and support AI champions in your team. These enthusiastic team members are already using AI themselves, can teach and inspire others, and will lead the way in building your AI capability. Your job is to identify them, support them, and remove obstacles in their way.https://swiy.co/go-championing-aiWho are the AI champions in your team and in your organisation? The best way to build AI capability in your organisation is to identify AI champions who will lead your AI initiatives.Whenever clients engage me for an AI keynote presentation at their conference, I also include in the presentation package an online "AI At Work" masterclass for all their staff to help them understand more about using AI. Many people still haven't used tools like ChatGPT, so this gives them a basic understanding of what's possible.I was running this masterclass recently for one of my clients. It was an interactive presentation, where many people asked questions, which I could answer immediat

You don't need to take years and spend millions of dollars to get started with AI. Start with small, self-contained projects that don't need a lot of technical expertise. These projects are effective, practical, create real value for the organisation - and also help people become more confident and comfortable with AI.https://swiy.co/go-ai-projects-todayHow are you going at implementing AI in your teams and in your organisation? The approach you take will make a big difference.Let me give you two contrasting examples.I spoke recently with a senior leader in a large organisation that's keen to implement AI. But they want to do it "properly", so they are spending two years on a massive AI transformation project to build their own AI tool. The catch is, until they’ve built this, - which is two years down the track - they’re not allowing their employees to use AI.Now, we don’t know what AI is going to look like in two years from now, so what they build will almost certainly be obsolete in two years. More importan

You don't need a huge transformation to get the benefits of AI in your organisation - and in fact, this often gets in the way of making progress. Instead, run small-scale AI projects, which save money, boost productivity, improve well-being, and increase engagement. Plus, they help your team get comfortable with AI, encouraging a culture of innovation.https://swiy.co/go-ai-projectsLet’s talk about two contrasting ways to use and implement AI. Both approaches have benefits, and both can work, but one of them is easier for most leaders, especially if you’re not leading an IT department or a very technical group of people.The first approach is what the giant consulting firm PwC does. They have taken the AI transformation approach - and fully committed to it. They have invested a billion dollars in their AI transformation, with a big investment into technology, including building their own version of ChatGPT called ChatPwC. It’s also for educating their people, bringing in the necessary skills from outside, and p

Many organisations are working from the top down to add AI throughout the entire organisation. But, unless you have a lot of money and other resources, that's way too slow. Instead, start doing small AI projects that create value - fast. You get quick wins, see real benefits, and build AI skills for everybody.Find out more:https://swiy.co/go-unlocking-ai Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many leaders experimenting with AI feel let down by the results because they don't explore it properly, so they only get a limited view of wht it can do. That means you might give up on projects too soon, or not start at all. Dont underestimate its power! Rethink its capabilities and start putting it to work to generate value for you and your team.Register for the virtual masterclass:https://swiy.co/go-underestimating-ai Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI is changing faster than ever, but if you want to step onto this fast-moving track, you probably don't need to know as much as you think you do. Spark innovation by creating a space that gives smart, talented people the freedom to get real-world results from AI - while doing it safely, responsibly, and in line with your goals.Register for the virtual masterclass:https://swiy.co/go-empower-and-elevate Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many teams on the AI journey hit bumps when trying to convince others - internally and externally. Some team members worry AI might replace their jobs, while senior leadership might not always be fully on board or see its benefits. If you're a leader or manager on this journey, it's essential to get others on board.Register for the virtual masterclass:https://swiy.co/go-ai-bumps-and-bruises Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A year ago, when I was talking to clients about AI, many were still asking Why questions: Why is it important? Why should I care? Why should I make it a priority? Now we've moved on from those questions, and it's good to see most leaders are convinced AI is important and here to stay. We're moving from scepticism to action and from curiosity to application. The next steps are What, How, and Who - and it's important you get them right.Register for the virtual masterclass:https://swiy.co/go-putting-ai-to-work Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to be a future-ready leader - especially with so much change, uncertainty, and disruption in our lives? Research by Macquarie University during the pandemic sheds some light on what the best leaders do - and continue to do - in leading themselves and their teams for future success.Download the worksheet:https://swiy.co/go-avocado-leader Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When making a decision, it's useful and appropriate to consider your return on investment, or ROI. But that's only one factor in making a decision. Also consider what happens if you don't do anything, and include the cost of inaction, or COI, in every decision.Download the worksheet:https://swiy.co/go-from-roi-to-coi Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Using AI is not about technology! AI is already being used in every industry and sector - including teachers, tourism operators, medical professions, artists, and managers. Most of these people are not "techies" - they are simply using the power of AI to do their work better. That's the real power of AI right now - to engage your team to use it by their side.Register for the virtual masterclass:https://swiy.co/go-unleashing-ai Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The future of work involves humans and machines working together. As a leader, you play a crucial role in combining artificial intelligence with human intelligence. This includes defining clear outcomes, identifing the right mix of people and AI, exploring flexible team structures, and building a culture that attracts top talent. Embrace AI as a tool for empowerment and you lead your team to a smarter, more adaptive workplace.Register for the virtual masterclass:https://swiy.co/go-better-together Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The heart of AI success comes from people, not technology. It's about rallying your team, sparking enthusiasm, and navigating the journey together. When your people unite behind AI, you leverage the tech, innovate for success, and boost your performance.Register for the virtual masterclass:https://swiy.co/go-empower-engage-excel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.