Did anybody see the Apple World Wide developer Conference live streamed last week (June 3rd 2109)?
Wow! The world is an exciting place!
Do you have your agile transformation strategy in place to remain competitive in the digitised 21st Century?
I have to admit, feel a sense of exasperation when I hear the words agile, digitisation and transformation.
In fact, it stems from my previous life in the IT industry where so often buzz words where used to secure budget for the latest tech investments, which were then implemented without a clear business goal being addressed. Investment for the sake of “modernity”, or competitiveness, or bragging rights – or just keeping up. In reality, these investments failed to deliver the promised ROI because they neglected to define the result in business terms, and failed to provide the “users” with a framework for success.
And I feel that we (collectively in our 21st century society) are in danger of falling into the same trap in many areas of our lives, feeling a need to “buy” or “buy-in” to the latest trends. Gadgets, Buzz Words, must have “stuff”.
Don’t misunderstand me – Technology advance is, for the most part, good! It’s our infectious “must have” attitude that that I am riling against. And that is not in an anti-consumerism anti-capitalist sense, but with a view to each person. We are all individuals, so I ask how it can be that we all need a bigger phone or higher resolution screen or being instantly available on our watch? Is it the modern age equivalent of driving a big car? Oh yes, people still go for big cars too.
What are we missing or needing that makes us think that the newest bling thing is the answer?
Maslow taught us about the hierarchy of needs: basic, psychological and self-actualisation. My hypothesis is that many are striving for self-actualisation and attaching progress to the next shiny object, but we are not taking care of our psychological needs. And here’s where I actually come back to the title of this piece. Fulfilment of our social and self esteem needs are what we require core skills for. The bells and whistles of the latest technology or shiny thing are commodities available to everyone with a credit card (or Apple Pay™), but although it may seem they are helping you, you can get much more out of yourself than you might be giving yourself credit for. You as a person are far more advanced than anything else – think I, instead of iPhone.
Did you know that most people do not fulfil more than 50% of their potential? (John Whitmore, Coaching for Performance). And you can only maximise your fulfilment of potential by removing what is holding you back. And making sure you have everything you need.
So, to fulfil our needs we first need self-awareness, to understand what our needs are! How self-aware are you? If you’ve never even asked yourself that question, then perhaps that’s a good place to start! Even if you have, I can guarantee you have blind spots, that may or may not be worth taking a mirror to.
My list of core skills to fulfil our social needs requires then self-awareness (what are my needs), listening (what do others say they need), understanding or empathy (what do they really need) and communication (connecting and giving).
Then I need a strategy and plan to ensure I am in the right environment and with the right people to get them fulfilled.
That sounds oversimplified and superficial. But ask yourself, when you are listening and connecting with others – how well do you do? When you are looking to achieve new levels of performance, or creativity, or fun – what unmet needs, or undeveloped core skills, might be holding you back?
I’m interested in your thoughts and welcome comments! I’d love to hear how you feel about your core skills.
If you’re already to take the next step, get yourself a professional coach, attend one of our seminars which will give you some excellent undertsanding and tools, or schedule a call for a free assessment for further insight!