[Dear Lewis] What mindset do leaders need to succeed in the future of work?
In today's edition, we explore how executives facing challenges can leverage the future of work for stability in the present.
Join us for another installment of Dear Lewis. Today, a client—a CEO navigating the challenges of economic uncertainty—seeks insight into the future of work and how emerging trends might offer guidance amidst turbulent times.
I share insights on how she needs to adopt a new mindset and integrate AI to thrive in both the future and the present.
Keep striving for greatness,
Lewis C. Lin
CEO, ManageBetter
🤔 What mindset do leaders need to succeed in the future of work?
Okay, friends, let's talk about this whole "future of work" thing that's got everyone's knickers in a twist. I had a dear soul named Sophia (not her real name) who runs a medium-sized company come to me, eyes wide, pretty much admitting she's halfway to paging the Federal Panic Advisors about how to navigate these rocky economic rapids.
Inflation's jacking up prices higher than a bachelorette party's tab after an open bar night. The company’s financials are looking as precarious as a newborn faun trying to stand up for the first time.
The poor thing is scrambling to put a lid on costs. She's re-optimizing daily operations until she's as dizzy as a rodeo clown who's been hit one too many times. No wonder the woman is a jittery mess of nerves - I'd be chugging chamomile tea by the liter.
So I ask Sophia what she’s done. She says she's been meeting with her "leadership team" for days on end. Says they've mostly just disappointed her. Hour after hour, they sit around rehashing the crappy past, pointing fingers, and taking zero responsibility. Not one ounce of energy spent on, oh I don't know, actually fixing anything or looking ahead. No, way too busy feeling sorry for themselves in that room.
And the personalities! These people could suck every bit of oxygen out of a space shuttle. You get the posturing show ponies who just want to hear themselves ramble on and puff their chests out. The ones with their not-so-hidden little agendas, protecting their turf at all costs. Not to mention the sad sacks trying to empire build in our dumpster fire.
When she came asking how to rethink her whole work approach, I knew I had to lay it out straight. Sophia needs to downsize those marathon meetings before they sap her will to live.
You know the ones - those soul-crushing slog fests where everybody spends eons gathering facts, analyzing some vexing issue until it's more tangled than Christmas lights, then finally deigning to brainstorm a solution that falls flatter than a preheated soufflé. It's like witnessing an intricate tribal dance comprised entirely of circling the drain.
But these days, we've got ChatGPT to save our bacon. That dazzling AI can inhale facts with the efficiency of a Dyson, read boring company files without blinking, then boom - fold in the pros and cons.
And the brainstorming powers of ChatGPT. That brilliant machine may not have every last crumb of context about your business rattling around in its circuits. And sure, the ideas it sprinkles out might not have quite the visionary sparkle of a Steve Jobs keynote. But you know what it does have? Speedier idea flow than my mind after three venti lattes. I can pump that AI for 25 fresh concepts before your team has managed to timidly mumble out 5 tired old suggestions. Ask for 50 brainstorms and ChatGPT is a frisky fountain, free-associating with the exuberance of a toddler high on pixy sticks. A hundred new ideas? Pfft, easy as a slice of processed cheese product.
The game's changing, friends. To really lean into this AI revolution, leaders like my pal Sophia have to switch up how they do things. Get a small, trusted group to work that ChatGPT magic - gather the intel, crunch the numbers, workshop some solutions. Then bring the best options to the bigger group for the final rose ceremony.
Need an inspiring metaphor? Think about those Marvel movies. When they had to save the world, do you think they wrangled every hero and sidekick into an all-hands meeting to spend hours rehashing the mess? Not a chance. The real brain trust like Iron Man or Hulk teamed up with a pal or two - sometimes even the AI assistant Jarvis - to game out the prime solution. Once they figured it out, they brought that plan to the whole super crew for the final thumbs up or down.
So if you're used to company-wide meetings with more people than a clown car, try paring it down to just a few key folks. If your usual meetup is you plus your team of four, slash it to you plus one. It'll feel weirder than putting pineapple on pizza at first, but I'm telling you - factor ChatGPT into the mix, and you'll see decisions moving quicker, ops running smoother, and your people happier than a seagull with a whole funnel cake.
Sophia throws a wrench into my tidy little worldview, pointing out that I'm oversimplifying things by thinking a solo AI companion is enough to navigate the wilds of the future work world. I throw up my hands and say, "Whoa, slow down. I didn't mean it like that."
I clarify that, of course, teams are essential, but what I'm getting at is that sometimes smaller teams, augmented by AI, can be a beautiful thing. AI can supercharge our efficiency, and who doesn't need a little boost these days?
So, to avoid any more confusion, let me lay out some principles for working with AI. Think of them as a map for navigating this brave new world:
Always ask AI for its two cents on tasks. It's like having a speedy, cost-effective sidekick that can tackle the grunt work that used to take us weeks.
Review what AI spits out. It's not infallible, folks. Treat it like a colleague who sometimes needs a little guidance (and a healthy dose of skepticism).
Think of AI as your trusty assistant or co-pilot. It's not the captain of the ship, and it can't make decisions on its own (no matter how much we might wish it could).
Remember that AI is constantly evolving. Don't write it off based on first impressions. Embrace it now, and you'll be ahead of the curve when it comes to mastering your workflow. Trust me, you'll be glad you did.
The future's coming whether we brace for it or not. But if we lean into awesome tools like ChatGPT while remembering to keep our human wisdom in the mix, we can ride those changing tides like champions.
Simple, right? Well, not always
I'm here to help. Email me if you have any management or employee challenges. I've got your back, and your identity will remain anonymous.
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