”Unprecedented”Where is Hope?
Do you remember when “unprecedented” was the word we used to for the global response to Covid 19?
Prior to that time many leaders had already identified that we were in a VUCA world… Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous.
On November 30, less than 2 months ago, artificial intelligence took a giant leap forward with a chatbot called ChatGPT. With ChatGPT, many jobs that humans have done, even creative writing, can be done in less than a minute. From your computer, you can request Chat GPT to write anything for you, a book, a program, a sonnet, an essay. This is a game changer for the worlds of education and business. This will affect everyone.
Chat GPT will change the level of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity as we adapt to a world where AI is capable of so much. We are heading into an age of technology that, to date, is unprecedented.
I must admit, as I thought about writing my first blog post of the year, using chat GPT was tempting. I assure you that this blog has been conceived and written by me. It will certainly take me more than 30 seconds.
I can’t help but ask the question that if AI can create so much today, what is the essential value of human contribution? Where do we, as organizational leaders, and humans, find our place in this brave new world?
At first glance, the outlook is bleak…. but I believe the resilience and creativity of humanity cannot be overstated. Change is challenging but we are not without hope!
We all have a relationship with change. Resisting change never makes it go away. Finding ways of coping with and embracing change has been essential throughout time. Remember that there was resistance to the automobile, air travel and television?
At this unprecedented time, to cope with the volatility, finding a skillset that is a wellspring for hope will help us cope with change that may feel hopeless. Leaders who level up their leadership effectiveness will find that they are able to manage current demands for business performance. How will you do this?
One gift Covid 19 (and the subsequent variants) gave us, is a deeper understanding of what it is to be human. Let’s not forget the lesson that we are hard-wired for connection. We need each other. The challenges ahead are so complex that we need the relational skillset so that we can collaborate like never before! In essence, our hope continues to be found in our ability to connect.
Many leaders are currently disconnected from strategic partners who are working towards the same ends. Silos will not serve the long-term effectiveness of any organization. It’s time to get lean, focus on the outcomes we most want to create and find partners who have complimentary skillsets. We must grow our most human skills to become as effective as possible in areas that only humans are able to visualize and execute.
For years, aviation has been a forerunner in this world of technology. Technology has made aviation safer. Autopilot is capable of incredible mastery of an airplane however pilots are still necessary. Pilots provide technical skills, such as aircraft handling. They also provide non-technical skills that are essential to the safety of every flight such as managerial leadership, decision making, situational awareness and communication.
Let’s get ready to meet this VUCA world head on! In the months ahead I will be hosting numerous workshops to that are designed to grow your leadership capacity. Join me in exploring frameworks and tools to develop your interpersonal skills and your leadership effectiveness with unprecedented focus and energy. There is hope, even in the advent of monumental change.