The Most Important Fact Every Organization Must Realize
"Why modern organizations must move beyond a simple alignment of IT with business practices, to a complete, corporate-wide embrace of digital technology and all that it entails." -Digital Outliers Podcast
If you're a manager or leader, how many times have you been met with the phrase "That's not my job", I cringe at the thought of being on the receiving end of that statement. Regardless of how short sighted it might be, people can demonstrate the tendency to compartmentalize their role or job into the title they are given. If you're in sales, you're not in marketing, if you're in operations, you're not in sales. My opinion is that this is a dying idea, one that is starting to become an expression of past.
The employee of the future might have a specialty of sorts but over all demonstrates a well rounded acumen that addresses many different roles and is a closer cousin of that of an entrepreneur.
The driver behind this shift in thinking is technology, and not just "tech", I am talking about the way that the internet of everything is increasingly the way of the future. In the old world IT has historically been the driver on any initiative concerning tech and how the company will deploy their strategies relative to technology. In today's evolving world it is important that if you want to be the best sales person, you have to also be a fantastic marketer. Not to mention a tremendous relationship builder that is also dynamic at demonstrating how technology impacts their role. A successful sales person today can not rely solely on their in person charm, their own personal Omni Chanel must demonstrate a through line so that what they present digitally is also the in person experience.
On this topic there are many thought leaders inside the fitness industry, my good friend Bryan O'Rourke and Rasmus Ingerslev are two outrageously awesome thought leaders to watch on these topics. Likewise, two thought leaders I admire outside the Fitness Industry are Brian Solis and Didier Bonnet, these two do a stellar job articulating this concept in a concise and easy to understand way.
In one of Mr. Brian Solis's most recent podcasts, Digital Outliers he spoke with Didier Bonnet (@didiebon), Senior Vice-President and Global Practice Leader at Capgemini Consulting and the co author of one of my favorite books, Leading digital. I have listened to the podcast about a dozen times at this point because the message was so well articulated that It has to be shared here. I am so impressed with Didier and Brian's dialog and ability to articulate such a complex topic so succinctly. Click here or on the link below to listen.
“Digital Transformation is really a business transformation driven by the current digital wave. If you can not get your workforce to adapt to this change, then your program will fail... the people side of the digital transformation is still as valued as any transformation, that’s where the big block is... the technology side is not the most difficult thing to change, the people change within the organizational change is the far more difficult to pull off. “”
At the end of the day, the responsibly as individuals is to round out our skills to reflect today's world. This is a wonderful opportunity for growth for many.
What do you think? Check out the podcast and let me know, how are you and your organization adjusting to the dissolving IT roles and adapting to the new world?
Lindsey Rainwater, also known as Lindsey RainH2O, is a sought-after business consultant, leadership coach, writer and presenter to the fitness and wellness industry. For more information about Rainwater, follow her on Twitter @LindseyRainH2O