As I have stated before, the age of Disruption will be fast paced and uncertain, aided by technology, social media, internet and emails etc. The new organisational framework is competitive and the risks lie not only in your industry but well beyond and around the world. Whilst I have a number of examples of this risk in my book being published 24th May (in just 3 weeks time) - there are several skills that your organisation can build now to improve your reactivity when Disruption comes along. Yesterday I covered ethics, today I cover Critical thinking.
Some may believe that critical thinking is a new concept - yet I can say it has been around for well over a thousand years+. So critical thinking takes some time, requires facts and differences of opinion - these are skills already in decline. The current new age of technology is already causing many to think faster, come up with short term superficial solutions, to take the quick win rather than understanding the alternatives.
So please consider how your team operates today - do you spend time building facts, discussing multiple options and determining potential solutions ? or does your team allow a power player or dominant person to lead the discussions towards their preferred solution? Are all in your team given a chance to have an opinion freely, time to analyse what might happen?
Well simply critical thinking is all about the alternate positions, looking behind the obvious, seeking meaning (lots of alternates there) and working up what those alternatives may look like. Critical thinking is not just about being right or having just one path forward! I like to explain this as imagining a tennis ball and placing a 10,000+ lines through it from all sorts of angles - each angle is over the same mid point in the ball, yet they will see completely different perspectives as to - the colour of the ball, its condition, lighting, surrounds etc. Each perspective line about this ball will be valid, yet - no single perspective is 100% correct as the other perspectives have more to add to the whole story.
I have seen HR managers have great new ideas for operational matters, also have seen technical people have great sales ideas - so ask all your organisation about the Disruption ahead.The Disruption ahead may come from other countries, other unrelated industries, both internal and external influences, society as a whole - your staff, customers and suppliers will each have varying perspectives on what lies ahead. It would be such a shame if the answer was known in your organisation but you missed it by listening to merely one powerful opinion.
Should you feel that your organisation is limited in its thinking - consider hiring a professional to open minds and build this critical thinking skill across your organisation - it may be the advantage that gets you ahead of your competition ! There are hundreds of articles on critical thinking available - so read and be knowledgeable on this important skill !
If you are a Leader or seeking to be one in the future - you need to read, read, read about Disruption NOW ! Those that fail to understand and adjust will fall behind.
Feel free to ask Dr Mat over a chat or email on Leadership, Management or change issues, advice, consulting or mentoring that you may seek.
These and other related topics feature in Dr Mats upcoming book titled "Leading and Managing Change in the Age of Disruption and Artificial Intelligence" - written for the modern professional, student and academic wanting to be ahead on modern Leadership and Management issues. Available through Amazon and other book sellers from May 24th 2019 - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1787563685
Consider your own specific situation and seek professional advice before acting directly in reaction to any of the tips on this website, they are intended as general advice only.