A slew of articles caught my eye this week that could provide us with a sneak peek into future skills and tasks that will impact the types of jobs available, particularly for what I call the middle strata—program and project managers, change practitioners, and mid-level leaders—career professionals who will shoulder the brunt of transformational change for organizations, particularly as AI and other advanced technologies take root. Let’s begin by taking a look at three areas—human data labeling, AI communications, and human-to-machine collaboration—in order to get a better idea of how the dots might connect for the middle strata in the next few years. Read more →

You might have read the article that summarizes the results of a survey by KPMG LLP titled "Will Women Take Big Risks?" It was disconcerting to see that less than half of the 2,000 respondents of the Risk, Resilience, Reward survey were open to taking big risks to further their careers. Read more →

Can you develop an appreciation for office politics? Most people I speak with may not think so until I share a glass half-full view instead of an empty glass perspective. Of course, much depends on whether you take steps to learn from different environments and the people dynamics that come with your experience. Read more →

As my team begins development on our training series AI in the Workplace℠ available to Seeding Change members in early 2019, I thought this would be a good time to write a post about not overlooking the basics. Focusing entirely on developing technical skill sets for 2030 and beyond may actually put you at risk of bypassing the transferable skills that will successfully lead you into the future.  Read more →

Learning how to successfully pivot begins with knowing what could get in your way. Think of pivot points as the bridge between your Plan A and your Plan B. By placing pivot points where you anticipate hiccups along the way, you prepare yourself and your team for potential risks and possible setbacks. But not all pivots are to avoid risk--unexpected opportunities can surface as well, and if you've prepared your mind to take them in you'll be ready to make the most of a shift in direction.  This infographic will help serve as a reminder for ten drivers of change that can present risks or opportunities for you.  Read more →

Business leaders might have it tough today, but it’s about to get a whole lot tougher. Except this time there won’t be any faking it until you make it. Leadership will truly come into its own in the next few years and it won’t be for the faint of heart. We’re leading up to a technological inflection point that increasingly includes AI as part of any digital transformation. In less than a decade the skills required to effectively keep the “wheels on the bus” rolling for organizations will look very different. The workplace itself will look and feel different. Read more →

Hoffman's Downtown is one of my favorite places for breakfast in Santa Cruz. Although I certainly try out different dishes now and again, I still find myself returning to my favorite meal of eggs over easy. The chefs consistently get my eggs just right--they're credible in my eyes. What makes you credible in the eyes of others? Read more →

Compassionate accountability. It’s a life challenge for me—what about you? When I’m under the stress of deadlines or I’ve allowed myself to get too hungry or didn’t get enough sleep the night before—pretty much, things that are in my control—what’s at risk of dropping is more than my energy level. In today’s fast-moving, ambiguous, and disruptive business environments of mergers and product innovations, it doesn’t take much of a leap for us to feel the challenges associated with living and modeling Emotional Intelligence while at work and in our personal lives. Read more →

How much would you say success in life is due to good timing? You know the adage—right time, right place. Perhaps, you’ve had teachers and bosses who intervened at the right time and inspired you to change your life’s course. Over the years the leaders I’m most grateful for having crossed my paths were those who seemed to instinctively know when I needed them to intervene. Their timing was always impeccable. Intervening at the right time increases the likelihood of your being able to influence someone’s direction, something that they may still be working out in their head. Read more →

Leaders ask professionals to change for a variety of reasons—shifts in strategy and direction, new product introductions, process improvements, or personal issues with job performance. Professionals change when their jobs change, and others strategically reinvent their careers in order to not miss their Personal Inflection Point. Preparing people for ongoing change requires that they learn how to remain nimble and pivot ready. But motivation can easily turn destructive when leaders fail to heed these seven call to actions. Read more →