Search Results

The Growth Faculty's Christine Kininmonth asked me about a prediction for 2025 last year. The COVID 19 situation has accelerated us to where we could be in 2025. Global organisations are entering local markets as everyone is now more online than ever before; local organisations need to determine how they will differentiate. We now live in a world of search, and those things such as brand or reputation are no longer unique sources of differentiation. How can you make your customer sticky? Through offering value based on customers expectations and not your 2019 business model. Be obsessed with their expectations and seek to continuously and incrementally improve them. Think customer intimacy at scale, learn more in my book "DIGITAL IS EVERYONE'S BUSINESS; A guide to transition" #customer #customerexperience #differentiate #differentiation #digital

What is, influencing your system? Systems, this is not about tech but systems thinking based on the research of Peter Senge. We have all broken out of an existing system in 2020. Some of these systems were a single re-enforcing loop (SRL); this is doing the same thing for the same outcome. A double loop can be created when we break out of SRL; we may enter it consciously or unconsciously. The outcomes could be good or bad, regardless of the intent of an activity. Recently we saw a bank change their existing loop on mortgage redraws, reducing the availability of funds for redraws to ensure customers would not fall behind with their mortgages. The intent was good; however, the consequences were disastrous. What changes have you recently made that could end badly? #systemsthinking #outcomes #loops #change #transform

Are you thinking of onshoring and insourcing work from external parties? Several organisations I have spoken with over the last few weeks are. They also explained that they needed to change their mindset to how they now approach the management of these activities. These changes are difficult; the success of the initial transition from an external party to your organisation will be dependent on how well the contract stipulates the vendor's obligations. Once the complete it will likely require the building of skills internally, management should avoid the temptation of "knowing it all". Seek to lead as a facilitator, allow others to contribute creating scale and so your organisation can be in a constant state of transition, always evolving. #scale #leadership #insource #onshore #evolve

The Growth Faculty’s Christine Kininmonth asked me can a transition to digital save money? Microsoft's Satya Nadella last week said; “we’ve seen two years’ worth of digital transformation in two months." 2020 has re-framed everyone's perspectives and as restrictions are being eased across Australia, businesses should assess what is; “Traditional” pre-2020 view, i.e. do we need the amount of commercial property for stores and employees? Unlikely. “Interim” response to 2020 circumstances. Things are working OK but is not sustainable in the longer term. Not all employees will be working remotely permanently but a far greater portion of them could be in the future. What should remain and if tweaked could be of real benefit? “Opportunity” to remediate or differentiate? What are the issues that have surfaced, and how can the gaps be closed in digital arrangements, for example, customer fulfilment? Also what work has not been completed whilst working remotely and was there any consequences? How much work was ritual-based and of limited value, that can now be stopped? The approach to digital hasn’t changed; if anything it has been accelerated, start by; analysing the work undertaken within them using the above criteria. It is highly likely that some of this work will be able to be stopped or optimised a review of technology investments, existing and future. Are these NOW the right investments? How will this be done? Who are the people within your organisation that can facilitate this? #digital #2020 #covid19 #leadership #work

Your customers, have you made them vulnerable? Thanks to everyone who has made contact with me in the last fortnight, I have thoroughly enjoyed chatting with former colleagues, professional friends and clients. These conversations have had a common thread of how we can help one another. I am grateful to all those customers who took the time to provide their testimonials for our new case study page at the updated CHANGE lead ® website, here Everyone I have spoken with have had their organisation commenced new working practises enabling continuity of operations. People’s thinking is now shifting to what potential vulnerabilities have been introduced due to these new arrangements. What could be the consequences? A common area of concern is customer data, and how secure is this now? Customer data breaches have a significant reputation impact, there have been some big instances in the past, here are the top 15 Here is a useful privacy document from ThoughtWorks that can help with a practical and appropriate security policy here #customer #security #digital #thanks

The Growth Faculty's Christine Kininmonth asked what size of organisation should bring in a digital transition expert? It is not the size but the mindset of the executive of a company that is important, as they will ultimately determine how digitally bold an organisation will be. Organisation’s have transitioned to digital employee and customer arrangements in record time. Prior to COVID 19 some of the outcomes now achieved would have required a large transformation projects over a year or two with a BIG budgets. Many have proved neither is required. Executives have now seen untapped digital/technology capability in full flight to meet the demands of the crisis. The question is now; what next can these teams now do for their organisations? This will be up to the boldness of the executive. Those who are bold are likely to be able to innovate within their industry and migrate the threat of disruption. Those that revert to their former self are now probably at even greater risk of being disrupted. Organisations will need to ensure there is somebody working with them to determine just how bold they will be beyond COVID 19. Who is that someone for yours? I dare you to share this post with them! Go on, be even bolder and tag them! #digital #beyond #future #business #leadership #onwards

CHANGE lead ® (my company) just announced a very exciting partnership. We are offering a no-cost DATA SCIENCE consultation as part of the new partnership between Digital Frontier Partners and CHANGE lead ®. This coincides with a refreshed www.changelead.com website. The key to our DATA SCIENCE approach is Data Hypothesis as opposed to traditional Data Management. We prove a hypothesis quickly with a focus on increasing revenue or reducing costs. For many businesses things have changed dramatically, we provide the insights for sensible actions. In the 2-minute clip below, we talk about the approach, how to become comfortable with investing in data science and the dangers of technical jargon. The no-cost 90-minute consultation is with Fred Herselman, the Data Scientist who features in the below video. If you found the 2-minute video interesting a longer 7-minute video explaining more is available here. #data #datascience #digital #partnership

Are you “checking up” or “checking in” with your team? There is a BIG difference; the first indicates a lack of trust and asks somebody to explain what they are doing. The second is how can you help. I first started remote working in 2001, and I remote worked a lot in the 2000s. I didn’t do as much in the following decade, what changed? I returned from London to Melbourne in 2010. Australian’s don’t trust remote workers as much in other parts of the world, and sadly this may still be the case based on the chats I have had in the last week. Here are some practical tips for team members who may have a leader “checking up”; Set up a 15 min daily team call talking about the tasks of today Turn on your camera as it stops you being distracted Keep up an to date list of the items you are working on, with a % complete and a forecast date Remote teas or coffees, schedule a call with a colleague Use this time to work on something that requires deep thinking; it could be game-changing. Remote work provides everyone with the opportunity to think; these ideas could be a great source of future innovation. #digital #work #leadership #people #teams #remotework

Your business just became a digital business, and the risk profile changed. The three and a half minute video was filmed with 6Clicks TV last month; it is even more relevant now. Many organisations had been incrementally moving to digital, and the last fortnight Australian organisations raced to it. There are many success stories of herculean efforts in keeping organisations running. Well done and congratulations to everyone. As we emerge from this frantic period, organisations will need to consider the risk of new customer and employee practices. Who are the best people to assess this? Your employees "IF" they have the know-how and capability. That is a "BIG IF". Organisations will benefit from a culture of increased transparency with information freely flowing, reducing decision-making cycles. It is likely there will be many new issues within organisations now, and there will be some known controls to manage them. There will be some issues without controls. These issues will require the establishment of controls, and in some instances, controls will be implemented locally by employees. The discipline of maintaining local controls is a risk, requiring close monitoring. Unfortunately, regardless of all the effort, there will be issues that will hurt businesses, testing cultures. When a situation such as this occurs, if treated as an educational opportunity and not a performance consequence (management) one, the culture of transparency will be sustained. If it is not the free flow of information will reduce, which is likely to have dramatic broader consequences with a remote workforce. Risk features predominately in my book. If you are interested in receiving a free copy of DIGITAL IS EVERYONE'S BUSINESS, please message me. You can also review the Risk section for free here. I am also offering no-cost 90-minute consults to explore the Risks, message me. #digital #risk #people #remoteworking #riskmanagement #capability #learnings #innovation

The last week has presented challenges and they are likely to continue. I am a passionate supporter of small businesses; they are interesting and bring diversity to our community. These businesses are now under significant threat, many have worked tirelessly to initially establish and then grow. At this time, we should all adopt a local business we love, supporting them with our continued consumption of their service and be their champion. My local much-loved yoga studio is now a small GLOBAL business, from this weekend their classes are available to the world. The Australian dollar is at the lowest point for decades, making it attractive for those abroad. The quality of the classes, their affordability and the opportunity to be part of welcoming community is what Tidal Flow hopes will allow them to trade through this period, there will be many other businesses that you frequent will now more than ever before require your support. As these businesses move to an online service, share them with your global community, make them a small GLOBAL business. Photo of Karen Shelton at her Tidal Flow Yoga studio webcasting a class. #community #yoga #support #smallbusiness #global #champion

A photo of my wife Nicole going off to work today as a triage nurse at an accident and emergency hospital, like thousands of others in healthcare who are not isolated or working remotely. Our children and I have asked how are you going to keep yourself safe? Nicole explained that there are some processes in place and if people follow them, we will be OK. Our children asked what happens if they don’t? We will still be OK. What are If you are feeling unwell, don’t go to the GP or hospital those in Australia contact 1800 020 080 or visit here. Organisations communicate this number to all your employees if you have not done so already! Everyone who walks through the hospital's front door (volunteers, contractors, patients, visitors, nurses, doctors and allied health) are screened. Screening includes questions about overseas travel, known exposure to COVID-19 or anyone with flu like symptoms and temperature checks. If there is anything they are worried about a mask is immediately placed on the person's face and a doctor called. The person is never placed in the waiting room to expose others. Any pneumonia type presentations are screened in the same way and placed in private rooms. These are the controls to manage the risk. There is a preventive control to keep people out of hospitals, a detective control and a local isolation control. All healthcare workers are superheroes; they do this work as they love their colleagues and helping people. If you know a health worker, thank them today. Maybe send them a text message now. If you are an employer of a partner to a healthcare worker, why not follow AIB’s lead this week, they are to pay partners of healthcare workers who stay at home to care for dependants, read it here. Finally, those bigger companies utilising services of smaller businesses consider how you can provide flexibility with their client work. Some of these people will have a partner who is a healthcare worker. Please continue with or reschedule prospect meetings and engagements remotely. After speaking with many small businesses this week, their client work is concluding, and prospect meetings are cancelled. Together we are stronger. #realsuperheros #healthcareworkers #nurses #doctors #carers #teachers #grateful #strongertogether

What do you do when you don't have a current technology strategy? What if you don't have the time to create a technology strategy? What if your technology strategy is not resonating with your executive peers and the broader organisation? Some technology teams may think they have a strategy; however, often, it is not; it is a series of technology statements without a link to business outcomes. At an event, I was asked how technology executives can establish and maintain credibility. In this one-minute video, I share what I learnt from visiting many leading global CIOs and technology executives in Europe over five years at one of my former employers. The learnings endure and are timeless. These great leaders all consistently approached their technology strategy with three common areas and dedicated their teams time accordingly FUNDAMENTALS, of technology services, 50 to 60% of the time SIMPLICITY, how they are contributing to simplify their organisation, 30 to 40% of the time INNOVATION, experimenting and qualifying the tech for tomorrow, 10 to 20% of the time. The takeaway; this is how to be balanced and relevant. #strategy #innovation #digital #fundamentals #leadership #fundamentals