Our devices are increasingly becoming our masters, according to Kylie Wright-Ford, operating executive, advisor and co-author of
The Leadership Mind Switch.
According to emarketer, in 2011 the average US adult spent less than an hour a day on their mobile devices (not using voice) and in contrast, by 2017 we were predicted to spend more than 3 hours a day on our devices.
Artificial intelligence is doing our shopping (through Alexa), and writing our texts (through SIRI), added Wright-Ford.
Moreover, repetitive work is being replaced by automation of some kind. According to a World Economic Forum survey of 15 countries in 2015, up to 7.1 million jobs would be lost to robotics and disintermediation in the next 5 years.
“Leaders are rightly unnerved by this environment,” said Wright-Ford.
“In Australia, 89% of business leaders surveyed in the GE Global Innovation Barometer in 2016 believe “that many businesses will face ‘digital Darwinism’ due to disruption in coming years.
“On the bright side, there are ways to future-proof your leadership and tech changes have significant potential upside for enlightened leaders that see possibility where others see demise.”
So how do we adapt our behaviour to meet the high bar that is being set by the changing environment?
Wright-Ford said that after conversations with more than 500 rising and seasoned leaders around the world, the four behaviours that successful leaders in the new world of work will display are:
Being uber-communicative
Superior communication incorporating constant updates, feedback, and a clear understanding of a message using multiple channels. It’s not enough to simply “communicate openly. ”Use imagery and brevity using Slack, Skype, e-mail, text, a printed newsletter, phone calls, and town hall meetings – whatever is needed -- to make sure your message is heard loud and clear.
Being dynamic
Enabling change in themselves and others having and showing a lot of energy. Dynamic leaders will produce motion instead of static by moving things forward, reducing confusion, and refusing to stagnate.
Unblocking their teams
Empowering people to grow, to do more, and to be more. To do so, leaders must help remove barriers to progress. These barriers include legacy thinking, risk aversion, overly structured thinking, and tunnel vision based on “group think”.
Being playful
In this era, you need to try new things and push boundaries. Increasingly, as our professional and personal lives blend into each other, it is important to bring levity and comfort to the workplace. The days of a frosty and remote leader and ugly cubicles are over. You need to know when to have fun and when to be serious to build a culture that people love.
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