You're a leader using technology. What's the most common mistake you're making?

As a leader leveraging technology, the most common mistake is potentially overlooking the human element. While technology streamlines processes and enhances productivity, it can lead to a disconnect with team members. Focusing solely on digital tools without nurturing personal connections may hinder communication and collaboration. Effective leadership in the digital age requires balancing technology with human interaction, empathy, and emotional intelligence to maintain a cohesive team and foster a positive work culture.

I guess my biggest pitfall has been future blindness. I spend so much time pushing the boundaries of what's possible that I sometimes neglect the human element. I get caught up in the potential of a new tool or platform, forgetting to fully consider its real-world impact on the people who will use it. I've launched projects that, while technically impressive, ended up feeling clunky or alienating to users. I've prioritized automation without fully understanding the human expertise it might replace. That's when I earned that we can't just be dazzled by the shiny new; we need to prioritize solutions that are not only innovative but also intuitive, ethical, and serve the needs of our users.

Over-reliance on technology poses the risk of disconnecting you from the details; one should never forget to periodically audit if previous assumptions, guardrails and thresholds are still relevant. On the other hand, there is a risk of losing sight of the big-picture, as you are getting flooded by an abundance of data.

Technology is a tool and that fact should never be lost. Tools are there to be used and not relied on. The key to leadership is being able to lead people and having people skills so stop hiding behind electrical gimmics. Get to know your team, what makes them tick as that will propel you to 'expert status' as not many leaders take the time to learn about their teams

While technology offers incredible tools for efficiency, communication, and data analysis, it cannot replace human insight, creativity, and interpersonal relationships. Leaders might fall into the trap of believing that technology can solve all problems, neglecting the importance of face-to-face interactions, team building, and the development of a supportive company culture. Over-dependence on technology can lead to a disconnection from the team, reduced collaboration, and overlooked human factors that drive motivation and innovation.

People are the business, technology supports the process. Being engaged with the people you lead could help unlock the value of technology in your business. The caveat being that technology in this context referring specifically to tools for productivity. Without rallying your teams around how and why the tools you use better your business and their work e.g., better collaboration tools make it easier for handover when they need to go on leave

In the video call mix-in I do recommend video-on communication. There is research showing it to be more effective for producing the outcomes desired for the whole purpose of using video conferencing.

Teams tend to perform exceptionally well when there is a healthy balance between human interaction and technology. This balance ensures that everyone understands the importance of in-person interactions in closing deals and solving big-picture problems. Automation is excellent at handling routine tasks and can provide humans with the necessary information to make informed decisions.

As a leader utilizing technology, it's crucial to find the right balance. While tech streamlines tasks, it can't replace the value of face-to-face communication, empathy, and creativity. Foster a culture where technology enhances collaboration without overshadowing human connections. Schedule regular in-person meetings, encourage open dialogue, and emphasize the importance of emotional intelligence. This blend ensures a well-rounded approach to leadership, leveraging tech's efficiency while nurturing the human aspect of your team.

One common mistake that leaders using technology might make is overlooking the human aspect of their team or organization. While technology can streamline processes, improve efficiency, and enhance productivity, it's essential not to forget the people who are ultimately responsible for utilizing and implementing these technological solutions. Some leaders may become too focused on the technical aspects of their work, such as implementing new software or optimizing workflows, and neglect the emotional and interpersonal dynamics within their team.

I have observed that some markets that adopt new tools and approaches tend to underutilize technology. Neglecting the potential of technology can cause leaders and their staff to fall behind with the times. This can make it more difficult to hire top talent and limit strategic options. However, a confident leader should never be afraid of technology. Rather, they should embrace it as an opportunity to enhance their business operations and stay ahead of the competition.

As a leader, it's easy to fall into the trap of not fully harnessing the power of available technology. This can lead to inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and slower progress. By not exploring and integrating innovative tools, a leader may limit their team's potential for growth and competitive advantage. It's essential to strike a balance, leveraging technology to automate tasks, gather data for informed decisions, and facilitate communication for a more agile and efficient organization.

Finding that tech sweet spot is crucial. It’s easy to overlook its full potential, but really, tech is a golden opportunity to up our game. I’m all about diving deep into tech, making sure we’re tapping into its full power. It’s about leveraging tech not just as a tool but as a catalyst for innovation and fresh ideas. So, let's fully embrace what tech offers, using it to fire up our creativity and efficiency. When we nail it, tech transforms from a simple tool into our secret ingredient for success.

An important emphasis is to continue to upskill. These days, AI is a perfect example of something to embrace and learn new skills around. Utilize sites like Linkedin Learning, Pluralsight, Udemy, Cybrary, Skillsoft/Percipio, etc..

While learning new technologies can be very useful in some cases, it is essential to ask two questions before investing: Why??What problem are we trying to solve with this technology? Does it align with our needs and goals? How??How can this technology be applied effectively and efficiently to solve the identified problem? By focusing solely on the technology itself, many people often overlook these crucial questions, leading to the risk of overengineering. Over-engineering refers to the practice of designing a product, system, or solution to be more complex or sophisticated than is necessary for its intended purpose. This can result in increased costs without any corresponding benefits.

Embracing tech and learning new skills is our ticket forward. Seeing tech as an opportunity, not a barrier, opens up a world of possibilities. I'm all in on diving into new tech skills, pushing both myself and my team to stay curious and explore. It's about wanting to get the hang of the latest tools and seeing how they can boost our work. Getting hands-on with tech lets us tap into its real power, making our work more efficient and creative. It's about staying on the cutting edge, making sure tech becomes our biggest advantage.

Seeing how Pixar used tech to change storytelling, it hit me how crucial it is to not brush off the ethics and risks of technology. Sure, tech drives progress, but if we're not careful, it can also cause harm and uncertainty. I make it a point to deeply consider the ethical side and risks of any new tech we dive into. Questions like "What's the impact on society?" and "Are we keeping privacy and security in mind?" are always on the table. For us, using tech responsibly is a must. Being mindful about tech means always being on our toes and having ethics guide our tech choices. It's more than what tech can do; it's about how we use it responsibly. We aim to use tech for good, ensuring it benefits everyone without causing harm.

Leaders may inadvertently overlook the challenges and struggles that team members face, especially when relying heavily on data-driven decision-making processes. Cultivating empathy and understanding for the unique experiences and perspectives of employees is essential for effective leadership.

1. Integration Challenges: Hurdles in seamlessly integrating various technologies such as point-of-sale systems, inventory management, and online ordering platforms. 2. Training and Adoption: Ensuring staff proficiency and smooth adoption of new technologies poses a significant challenge, requiring effective training programs and change management strategies. 3. Cybersecurity Risks: Protecting sensitive customer data and financial information from cyber threats becomes a top priority, demanding robust cybersecurity measures. 4. Cost Management: Balancing the costs of implementing and maintaining technology solutions with the expected returns can be a constant challenge.

It's great to be learning new tools and technologies, but this is not the right question to ask. Not even close! Instead of "What common mistakes are you making using technology?" be sure to ask "How are you using technology at this stage of your learning curve?" Skill development takes place on an S-curve. The activities and output at the early stage will not resemble the quality and quantity of your productivity in the middle or later stages. Another key idea in this regard is to ask, "In what context?" so that you take pressure off when you are getting set up. After 25 years in tech, I still can get frustrated when an API key doesn't validate! That's when I need to ask perspective questions like these.

I think AI is a great opportunity for leaders to take some tasks off of their plate and save some time so they can focus on what AI can't do...building a healthy culture. Many leaders do not feel like they have the time to practice inclusive behaviors. This is sad, but a real issue with "time poverty." While ChatGPT is FRIGHTENINGLY good, it cannot replace your empathy, your problem-solving, and building relationships with your employees. Let the robots do what they can do (when appropriate...we all know when your LI posts sound like a robot), so you can take the time to build a healthy work environment. I write about how to do this in my LI newsletter here (that's written by me, not a robot...but AI sure helps with making graphics though).

In my experience, it is essential to understand a technology is required to provide a solution for a problem in a standard manner. Therefore, when using technology it is vital to understand that we should use technology to resolve the problem and not to find shortcuts because of the limitation of the technology. If we have to divert from proper solutions because of technological limitations then we are not using technology properly.

Leading with technology requires both vision and awareness. While common pitfalls like lacking a strategy or neglecting user needs can derail progress, ethical considerations, system integration, and change management also require attention. Leaders must ensure scalability and future-proofing, while continuously monitoring and adapting to stay ahead. By addressing these diverse aspects, leaders can harness technology's potential for organizational success.