Outlasting Coronavirus: Tips For Staying Relevant Keep Innovating and Come Out Ahead After a Crisis By Scott Steinberg
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o much for “status quo.” As a rash of recent coronavirus-related concerns and subsequent rise of market uncertainty reminds, there are no more static or predictable patterns in today’s workplace. Affirming this principle, researchers at IBM further note that continuous change is the new norm. Ironically, according to them, it’s also more normal than new. These findings were first published more than a decade ago. Whether or not we choose to accept this wake-up call and react accordingly, well . . . that’s a different story altogether. Consider that change is now exponential, thanks to vast advances in technology and communications. In fact, the next 10 years will bring more change than the prior 10,000 years. Moreover, in a globalized, interconnected world, competition is nearly infinite. Like almost any piece of information, whatever you’re looking for — new job, new hire, new vendor, etc. — is just one click or call away. Just one problem, as Peter Diamandis, head of the XPRIZE Foundation, charged with bringing mankind radical breakthroughs, noted at a recent lecture: Whether you’re discussing careers, lives or businesses, these shifts are no longer linear or predictable, even though that’s how men and women think. As he puts it, “Humans are not prepared to understand the rate of change” going forward. Worse, adds University of Oregon psychology professor Dr. Paul Slovic, we’re really crappy at stepping outside of comfortable grooves and at estimating the upsides and downs with taking potential risks. Confronted by change, it’s safe to say that we get three choices: Address it, avoid it or pretend it doesn’t exist. But to stay relevant, especially in a world overflowing with talent, brimming with competitors, and filled with a growing number of unforeseen forces and outside events that promise to reshape our operating reality, the options are clear. Only the first of these choices presents individuals or organizations with a viable option for remaining relevant. In a world where best practices, others’ expectations and competitive landscapes are constantly shifting, value and timeliness are also moving targets. We must change and move with them as well.
How Innovators Succeed
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled wasn’t convincing the world he didn’t exist: It was convincing us that the challenges or obstacles that we face are outside of our power to control or influence. Look up the words innovation and disruption — two of the most over-used amongst modern professionals — in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, and you may be shocked. Innovation is simply the introduction of something new — new idea, new product, new career plan, etc. — while disruption is merely a disturbance that interrupts current routines or events. Take a second look at your shifting schedule, shifting work priorities, and shifting business or career perspective, and you may be surprised to discover that we’re all innovating and navigating through disruption daily. Technically, this means that the only thing holding most individuals and enterprises from changing, learning and adapting, i.e. staying relevant, is their own thoughts and attitudes. In other words, if you want to keep up with the pack, let alone pull ahead of it, you’ve got to innovate — and innovation is simply a function of our willingness to change, grow and experiment. To reiterate, the problem-solving process — study the challenges you face, create a plan, take action, learn from the reactions you get, and respond accordingly — works as well for individuals as it does Fortune 500 firms. The Secret to Getting Ahead
Every year, consulting firms study hundreds of leading innovators — companies such as Apple, Amazon and Google — to see where their competitive advantage lies. Rather than access to greater time, money, talent or resources though, all succeed for one main reason: They employ better solutions for Continue on page 10 the Front Row | wsiada.com | March/April 2021 |
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