Adaptation

A big theme emerging for me in the past weeks is the idea of Adaptation. Change is afoot, and things are changing fast. In. business, we are faced with crucial decisions that will ultimately shape the course of our organisations and our society.

The word "adaptation " traces back to Latin aptus, meaning "fit" or "apt." Other adaptations of aptus in English include aptitude, inept, and of course apt itself. This begs the following questions:

• What will be the result of our current adaptation?
• Will we develop aptitude, or will we become inept?

For me, the difference stems from the conscious choices we make now, so, by extension (and as always) be need to be honing our decision-making capabilities at every level of the organisation. Adaptation is the process of "adjustment to environmental conditions", current and future. One way to do this is using foresight to imagine future scenarios and how you business will play out under these conditions, and the backcast what modifications we need to make now to make our organisations more "fit for existence" under those future conditions".

Worldweaving? Workshops

Worldweaving? is a collaborative process where we design conceptual, speculative, or fictional worlds or scenarios to stress-test current and future trends against a business's strategy This approach allows businesses and leaders to adapt their strategies, develop new products, and create solutions to solve future challenges for their organisations and customers.

I'm happy to announce that I've partnered with the team at Flux Trends to facilitate Worldweaving? Workshops to bring this essential skill set to businesses in my network now.

What is Worldweaving? Read more >>

The Future of the Media

Let's consider the current tension brewing between OpenAI and major media outlets. On the one hand, we're seeing media heavyweights like CNN, Reuters and The New York Times blocking OpenAI's robots in an effort to to protect their content, and on the other hand we're seeing Conde Nast announcing a strategic partnership with the company as the media landscape begins to shift. One wonders what this means for media in the future, compensation and representation.

The Bionic Business of the Future

The team at TomorrowToday Global present the idea of a Bionic Business of the Future is an organisation that blends smart technology with human expertise to enhance both business performance and social impact. In these businesses, technology like AI, robotics, and data analytics work in sync with human abilities to create smarter, more efficient processes while focusing on sustainability and ethical practices.

The "bionic" aspect refers to the combination of technology ("smart tech") with human intelligence to supercharge operations, innovation, and problem-solving. It's not just about automation—it's about a partnership between humans and machines, where technology augments human capabilities rather than replacing them, and where businesses thrive by being both profitable and purposeful.

In short, a bionic business prioritises:

1. Smart tech integration to empower people and optimize processes.
2. Business for good, focusing on social impact and sustainability.
3. Human-tech collaboration, creating an environment where human creativity and technology work together to solve complex challenges.

Get the scoop on the presentation here >>

Let's Hear It Again

Audio marketing took centre stage at last week's Bookmarks Awards ??, with campaigns accounting for 50% of the gold ?? winners across multiple categories. Though audio-first marketing isn’t new, this year’s standout campaigns revealed exciting trends worth noting.

Here are the three campaigns that swept the gold:

?? Vodacom Hearing Challenge: Developed by VML South Africa, SlikourOnLife, and Think Creative Africa, this campaign transformed a clinical speech-in-noise hearing test into a fun TikTok challenge. A game-changer for accessibility in South Africa, where hearing tests are often out of reach for many.

?? Stronger: Created by TBWA\Hunt Lascaris, this music track used AI to mimic Riky Rick's voice, drawing on the heartfelt condolences shared after his tragic passing. Designed to raise awareness for mental health, this campaign is truly moving and powerful.

?? Bedtime Stories for Business People: From TBWA\Hunt Lascaris, this playful campaign for City Lodge helped business travellers relax with humorous, sleep-inducing "misguided meditations" like, “You are the boss of your stress, so you can fire your stress.” A lighthearted, clever approach that left a mark.

What I appreciate most about these campaigns is their focus on real-world impact, tackling issues like mental health and accessibility, rather than just selling products.

Shoutout to the team at Mark1 for an unforgettable event.

See the original post here >>

9 Causes of Imposter Syndrome and their Remedies

Imposter Syndrome is a term that resonates with many of us in the workplace. But is it possible that this term has become a catch-all for more nuanced experiences related to growth and cultural fit? I recently caught up with Burnout and Leadership Coach for Women, Maude Burger-Smith to understand more about Imposter Syndrome, what it's caused by and what we can do about it...

Here is some of what I learnt >>

Let's Torque EX

Join us for a live webinar with the EX extraordinaire Sally Acton (she/her) from Torque

?? Date:?Wednesday, 28th August

?? Time:?4 PM SAST

Who Should Attend:

??♀? HR Professionals

??♀? Business Leaders

??♀? Organisational Development Experts

??♀? Anyone passionate about enhancing EX in their organisation

In this session, Sally will tackle the pressing challenges in Employee Experience, share impactful case studies, and unveil Torque’s proven 4 EX Formula. You’ll also get actionable tips on creating a thriving workplace and engage directly with Sally during our interactive Q&A.