While many wonder when we’ll return to a pre-pandemic world or figure out what the “new normal” will be, futurist Mike Walsh says people should focus their attention on what the new world will look like and how to succeed in it.
“This is the dawn of a new world, a world that will run on a new set of rules,” says Walsh, CEO of Tomorrow. “Many are wondering what a post-pandemic world will look like as we come out of this crisis. Ultimately, it will be up to us and the decisions we make now.”
During the Discovery2022 Conference, Walsh offered three rules that will influence how our world will operate in the future:
1. There is no digital disruption, just digital delivery
Disruptors used to be viewed as organizations that had something special, but “we’re all disruptors now,” Walsh says. Think big and bold, and look to the youngest generation—your kids—for a “ringside seat” to the future because they’ve only known a life that has been shaped by algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI).
Keep these insights in mind:
“Digital transformation has begun,” he says. “Every organization in the future will be a software company.”
2. There is no remote work, just work
Embracing technology to carry out work just changes the hardware used to complete work. Instead, the more critical aspect is the culture, or the system of interactions and how employees make decisions, collaborate, and get things done.
In this environment, successful businesses will share five characteristics:
“Remote work is the beginning of a much bigger transformation that’s changing the nature of business,” Walsh says.
3. Artificial intelligence will not destroy jobs, but it will change them
Instead of asking how AI will eliminate jobs, ask how it will change jobs and the role of leaders. Algorithmic leaders need a deep understanding of human complexity plus computational skills, such as how to use data.
Three principles should guide these leaders:
“It’s not enough to upgrade our digital capabilities,” Walsh says. “We must evolve our leadership as well.”