Fit For The Future

Why do so many change and innovation programs fail? Even with management buy-in, a willing culture, and good ideas, too many innovation programs just don't get traction anymore. In this fast-changing world, there's one element missing from many of these programs, and it can doom them to failure. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Bitcoin is currently valued at $17,057, but it's volatile and filled with hype. What IS it, and should you invest $15,662 of your hard-earned cash in buying it? Even if you don't have a spare $16,902 sitting around, take the time to understand the basics of Bitcoin and blockchain technology and know what it means for you and your business. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You’ve done everything right, played by the rules, and built a solid business, but the world has changed and everything you valued is shaken to the core. So how do you continue to be successful in a fast-changing world? In a nutshell: Disrupt yourself. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The traditional workplace - an office with everybody working the same hours, at the same time, in the same place, and focussed on the same goals - is changing fast, but many leaders don't know how to apply their leadership skills to these new environments. Leaders who understand the needs of their distributed teams members will increase productivity, retain the best talent, and achieve their personal and professional goals. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Members of distributed teams value and expect opportunities for professional development just as much as in-office team members. As a leader or manager, be proactive and innovative to find ways to help accelerate the experience curve for your distributed team members. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Many industries are experiencing disruption - sometimes from inside the industry, but more often from outside. Are you going to thrive and survive in a time of disruption and change, or will you nose-dive and disappear? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Disruption has become a bit of a buzzword now – and it’s become so hyped up it’s lost a lot of its meaning. You hear that you’re being disrupted, you know you need to do something about it, but you don’t exactly know WHAT disruption means, and then you don’t know HOW to manage it. In this podcast, we look at global megatrends affecting us all, the six biggest disruptive forces that could turn your business upside down, and how to raise your strategic planning so it's aligned with future trends. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Conflicts are inevitable in any workplace, but can be particularly challenging in distributed teams, where team members don't work in the same office. As a leader, it's important to understand these differences, so you can prevent conflicts before they occur if possible, and address them promptly when they do occur. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Innovation is everybody's business now, and doesn't only come from off-site retreats or an R&D department. It starts with you as a leader, extends to every member of your team, and then expands beyond your team to your customers and clients. Discover how to embrace innovation as a leader, spark ideas in your team, and encourage trusted involvement and engaged interaction. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Leaders need followers, and followers are crying out for strong leaders. But the best people only follow you if you can give them work with meaning, energy, and purpose. And you can only do that if you yourself have meaning, energy, and purpose - in other words, you bring passion to your work. Leadership expert Charles Kovess explains what this means - not just in high-level language, but with practical, easy-to-implement ideas. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Great leaders aren't afraid to stand for something that matters to them, even if it means being unpopular. They have a strong personal brand based on what they stand for, and built on two things: their expertise (what they know) and their network (who they know). That personal brand drives their decision-making, attracts the best followers, and makes a mark in their world. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

External workers - such as freelancers, contractors, consultants, and workers in the sharing economy - are no longer just fringe workers, but an important part of the workforce. Even if you're an experienced leader, the rules of engagement have changed when you bring these people into your team. They bring both challenges and opportunities, but working with them effectively is a leadership skill that will be crucial in our future. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We now have so many options for doing work - and that brings more flexibility, greater access to talent, and better integration of work goals with personal goals. But this also needs a new mindset around work, for everybody in the workplace - especially leaders. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We have recently seen some interesting purchases, mergers and developments from high-tech companies that will affect all workplaces. In this episode, we'll look at how they influence the future of work in general, and distributedwork in particular. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Do you have to be a fear-monger to be a great leader - resorting to scare tactics and dire warnings of the future? Sally Anderson of Evolved Leadership doesn't think so! She talks about a new kind of leadership - Co-Creative Leadership - which doesn't deal with fear and narrow-minded thinking, but with abundance and unlimited potential. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the 20th century, leaders identified goals for their organisation, described the jobs required to meet those goals, and hired people with the right skills to fill those job descriptions. That's no longer the case. Our world is changing so fast that neither goals nor roles are clear and well-defined. The skills needed for success in the future aren't technical, task-oriented skills – because those skills will become obsolete through automation and artificial intelligence. Instead, the most future-proof skills will be higher-order thinking skills. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

For the last 200 years, the office with a permanent staff has been the default work environment of the knowledge worker. But it wasn’t in the past, and it’s not necessarily the best for the future. What would the workplace look like if offices weren’t an option? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Your positioning in your marketplace - how your ideal customers and clients view their relationship with you - has a huge impact on your success. If you have low-level positioning, you're constantly pushing hard to get noticed and get picked. But if you're positioned as an expert, authority, or partner, the right customers and clients are magnetically attracted to you. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Great leaders share their wisdom and experience with others, to build their judgement and give them greater power, responsibility and authority. This is more important than ever before, because you can't do it all yourself, and your team members have unique skills and talents. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Innovation is everybody's business, and it's more challenging with a distributed team. However, that doesn't mean it can't happen - it just has to be designed and engineered into your work practices. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.