Embracing change in business and life
On Tuesday, November 26th, Leigh Powell, Business Strategist and mentor, will be a panellist at the YTM Business Networking: Progressive Dinner - Embrace the Change and Hats Off to Success!
In preparation for the event, Leigh has been reflecting on a YTM session where he spoke, back in 2020 on “The Future of Work” and the potential risks and opportunities that come with embracing such change.
The change he was talking about was and has played out as a shift towards a more flexible and remote working environment which the global pandemic accelerated . Add to this the rapid emergence of AI and you have a manifestly different challenge in the way we approach and conduct work, now and definitely into the future.
Embracing automation in various industries presents immense opportunities, and we have already experienced how it is freeing up human labour for higher-value, creative, and strategic tasks. However, this shift also poses the risk of job displacement, especially for those in roles that can be easily automated.
To harness the benefits of automation, reskilling and upskilling programs must be prioritised.
Ongoing learning needs to be embraced
But whose responsibility is this? Leigh shared with me recently, that he believes both the employers and the employees need to be responsible to ensure that learning and reskilling are a natural part of the mix rather than a 6 module course to be run and then shelved. Ongoing learning must be embraced by all and funded as a normal cost of doing good business.
Asked- “What has this got to do with our businesses, our lives and our clients?”
Leigh replied - “Lots I would say. Remote working relies on trust, self-management, and measured productivity however it also provides the challenge of isolation, absence of in-the-moment feedback and mentoring, and with forms of communication that are fraught with potential misunderstanding and therefore disjointed and mistimed work outcomes.”
So, how do we to optimise hybrid working rather allow it to produce sub optimal experiences for employees, customers and business owners?
“Let’s talk”
Since 2020 the more Leigh has thought about the future of work and as importantly the nature of work, the more he lands on the same thing: ie “Lets Talk”
So over dinner, let’s talk about starting at the end rather than the beginning. Ie what is the problem we are seeking to solve and how has this changed and how will likely continue to change?
In doing so let’s ensure we talk to all stakeholders to assemble all elements of what a better work system may achieve.
Make sure in the discussion we embrace the change and include where AI can help or hinder, where employees can best contribute through technical knowhow and ideation and then how does that make the customer feel and respond.
The future of work is indeed evolving, and with it come both risks and opportunities. By recognizing and addressing these challenges, we can pave the way for a more inclusive, resilient, and dynamic workforce. As we embrace change and move towards the future, it is essential to remain agile, adaptable, and open to learning, in order to seize the opportunities that lie ahead
Why do this?
Because your competitors will.
Over dinner you will also hear from Leigh and our other panelists from that event, back in 2020- Warren Howard, Nicholas Powell and input from Harriet Lammin as they review their predictions and share what they now believe to be the future of work.
Want to join the conversation on the 26th of November. Register HERE
Hello, I’m Kerryn Powell, The Network Catalyst and founder of Your Time Matters.
Your Time Matters, is a business community where we believe in the power of meaningful connections to drive business success. Our community is a supportive space where business owners can come together, share insights, and build trusted relationships. Through conversations that count, we help you unlock opportunities, stay accountable, and achieve your goals faster.
If you're ready to strengthen your network and grow your business with the support of a like-minded community, join us at Your Time Matters. Let’s connect and thrive together.
