FUTURE TALENT November - January 2019/2020 | Page 7

FROM THE CEO | Welcome W EFFICIENCY ISN’T ALWAYS THE ANSWER A n apocryphal story has it that during the 1960s space race, the Americans invested millions in space pens that could operate in zero gravity. Their Russian counterparts thought more laterally and simply gave their astronauts pencils. Sadly, it isn’t true. But it illustrates how our advanced technological capabilities can turn us into busy fools, in thrall to the cult of efficiency. We have the ability to gather endless data to optimise systems, processes and performance. All while simpler, better options are right in front of us. As Bill Gates noted, if we don’t carve out the time to think clearly, busy can become the new stupid. Having said that, technological advancements are unleashing multiple disruptions. If the rate of change inside your business isn’t exceeding the pace of change outside, it might be time to rethink how your employees are learning. We explore how organisations are revolutionising professional development with new technology and business models. But as our technological abilities improve, we shouldn’t side-line the skills that have always made the biggest commercial difference: the ability to think creatively, to solve complex problems and to challenge the accepted orthodoxy. These aren’t new, of course. As we unpack in our cover feature, they are skills that philosophy has long championed. It’s perhaps no wonder that a growing number of management consultancies, banks – and even the Pentagon’s AI Centre – are hiring ethicists, theologians and philosophers to help them work through thorny strategic questions to set them up for future success. Talking of the future, you’ll note that our magazine has a new look and name. Taking a cue from our Future Talent Conference, we’re keen to align it with our aim to help leaders develop the skills and mindset to thrive in the rapidly changing world of work. Please share our digital version, available via futuretalentgroup.com — where you can also find out more about our products and services. ADVANCED TECH CAPABILITIES CAN TURN US INTO BUSY FOOLS Jim Carrick-Birtwell Co-founder and CEO | [email protected] November – January 2019 // 7