AI & Culture

AI & Culture

A Gentle Contrarian's View on Business Evolution

In the rush to implement AI for business improvement and competitiveness, a crucial element is often overlooked: culture. As someone who works with culture and strategy alignment, I see this oversight as a significant issue.

The old adage "culture eats strategy for breakfast" only holds true when culture and strategy are misaligned. Before hastily adopting AI, it's essential to ensure your organizational culture is prepared for it.

Let's consider a fundamental agreement: if we continue doing what we've always done, we'll get what we've always gotten. This principle applies to our approach to AI adoption and cultural change.

We're living in uncertain times, where disruption is the new norm. The pandemic proved that businesses with "leaky buckets" struggle to survive. However, uncertainty brings opportunity. Why? Because the playbook for success is being rewritten.

Evolution is key in this ever-changing environment. It's not about pivoting once; it's about continuous adaptation. Our approach involves 90-day incremental evolutions within a three-year roadmap, distilled into daily fast execution.

Consider recent global disruptions: the pandemic, the rise of conversational AI, and climate change concerns. Each event reshapes strategic plans across industries. We're not returning to normal or even settling into a "new normal." Instead, we're facing a series of "next normals."

In this context, the question becomes: Is your business agile and flexible enough to adapt to these disruptions?

You have a choice: affect change in your industry or be at the mercy of its effects.

To navigate this landscape, we need leaders willing to lead, not follow. This means anticipating market needs before they're apparent and acting in advance. It's surprising how many businesses are still not innovating, disrupting, or reimagining their operations.

Innovation, by definition, means to change or do something different from within. Yet many organizations try to force-fit external innovations into existing structures. This approach rarely succeeds.

Instead, focus on building cultures that empower and engage people while extending reach. The goal is to create an environment where humans and AI complement each other, rather than compete.

This shift requires rethinking traditional workplace philosophies. Move from...

"you're paid to work, not think"

to...

"you're paid to think, and if you need to do some work, that's okay."

As AI takes over more routine tasks, human value lies in creativity, imagination, curiosity, and empathy.

Building an invincible culture - one too powerful to be defeated or overcome - is crucial. This culture should provide:


  1. Something to believe in (a compelling purpose)
  2. Someone to believe in (strong, visionary leadership)
  3. Someone who believes in me (empowerment and trust with values)


However, culture alone isn't enough.

Organizational structure matters too. Traditional hierarchies and silos hinder the collaboration necessary for innovation. What's needed is an ecosystem where AI and humans can thrive together, akin to the symbiotic relationships in the Great Barrier Reef.

As we face perhaps the most significant existential crisis in the workplace, remember: it's not about AI replacing humans but about humans and AI working in harmony. Your culture should embrace both, setting ethical guardrails that apply equally to human and AI operations.

The businesses that will thrive are those that create cultures ready to embody AI, not just implement it. They'll tap into "human AI" - the collective intelligence and creativity of their workforce - while seamlessly integrating technological AI.

Are you preparing your culture for this evolution?

Or are you waiting for a new business to come along and claim the future you were destined to own?

The choice, and the opportunity, are yours.

It's time to lead different.

Together we can...

#EvolveTheWorldOfWork


Dave Clare, Chief Evolution Officer

Circle Leadership

要查看或添加评论,请登录

Dave Clare的更多文章

  • Leadership Truths That Actually Make Sense

    Leadership Truths That Actually Make Sense

    Why Most Leadership Advice is Bullsh*t (And Why I Think Mine Isn't) Let's cut to the chase. The world of leadership is…

    1 条评论
  • The Death of "That's How We've Always Done It"

    The Death of "That's How We've Always Done It"

    I've gotten really inquisitive into psychology of late. Studying the great masters - Freud, Jung, and Adler.

    2 条评论
  • Thinking Backwards is the Way Forward

    Thinking Backwards is the Way Forward

    A Contrarian's Guide to Strategic Planning Let me guess, your organization is currently 'reimagining' its strategy…

    10 条评论
  • Building Bridges in a World of Walls

    Building Bridges in a World of Walls

    FYI: This isn't a rant (for a change), it's a plea to humanity. It's a call to leadership.

    1 条评论
  • The Last Article You'll Ever Need to Read About Corporate Values

    The Last Article You'll Ever Need to Read About Corporate Values

    Because I'm Tired of All the BS - And, Because Someone Needs to Say What Everyone's Thinking About Corporate Values. My…

    2 条评论
  • The Corporate Denial About Where Work Actually Works

    The Corporate Denial About Where Work Actually Works

    Let's stop dancing around the obvious: Your empty office buildings aren't assets anymore - they're anchors the sunken…

    10 条评论
  • UNDERSTANDING LEADERSHIP:

    UNDERSTANDING LEADERSHIP:

    A JOURNEY OF EVOLUTION Picture a familiar scene: Another leadership training program ends. Your leaders return, armed…

    2 条评论
  • The Great Return

    The Great Return

    Why We're Evolving Beyond Traditional Office-First Thinking in 2025 (And Why That's Not Even the Real Challenge) In a…

    2 条评论
  • From Zumba to Zoom Calls

    From Zumba to Zoom Calls

    Beyond Strategic Partnership: Becoming True Team Members This morning, I found myself doing something I never expected…

    8 条评论
  • Building Your Casa

    Building Your Casa

    CHAPTER THREE of Building Your CASA. When Business Finds Its Way Home.

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了