Business as Usual is No Longer an Option. Reinvent how you lead.

Hi there,

In the next 8 weeks, I am going to focus on why leaders need to reinvent the way they lead in the new future of work. The stories and references are repurposed from my original manuscript which was not published. So you now get a sneak peak - who knows this could be in a 2nd book "REINVENT 5.0"?

By now we know what the new world of work is shaping out to be - one that is unpredictable and ambiguous. Do we need a new leadership blueprint?

Well it goes back to "REINVENT" - why leaders need to reinvent the way they lead. In this article I want to focus on "R" - Risking-taking Mindset - to embrace the unknown.

The future belongs to those who are bold enough to take calculated risks. Here's some great examples of business leaders took a gamble on how they run their business , their pitfalls and success:

• Howard Schultz (Starbucks): In 1983, Schultz, then the head of marketing at Starbucks, saw potential beyond just selling coffee beans. He convinced the company to open retail cafes, a risky move in a market dominated by Folgers and Maxwell House. Today, Starbucks cafes became cultural hubs, revolutionizing the coffee industry. They don't compete on products, they reframed their category and compete on experiences.
• Jeff Bezos (Amazon): In 1994, Bezos quit his Wall Street job to launch Amazon, an online bookstore operating out of his garage. The internet was still in its infancy, and many doubted the viability of online retail. Bezos' risk paid off, and Amazon is now a global e-commerce giant, disrupting countless industries.

Of course, Risk-taking doesn't guarantee success. But each failure is a learning experience that could catapult business success. Let's look at these 2 stories:

• Akio Morita (Sony): In the 1970s, Sony gambled on a new technology: the Walkman. Portable cassette players were a novel concept, and many predicted failure. However, Sony's risk paid off, revolutionizing personal music consumption and establishing the company as a leader in portable electronics. But it wasn't without its bumps. They initially struggled to find headphones small and light enough to be comfortable for extended use.

Despite initial struggles with headphone design, the Walkman became a runaway success, revolutionizing the music industry and establishing Sony's global brand recognition.

• Steve Jobs (Apple): Jobs' career was marked by both visionary risks and spectacular failures. The Apple Lisa, a high-priced computer launched in 1983, was a commercial flop. However, Jobs learned from this and came back stronger with the Macintosh, a more user-friendly and affordable personal computer that revolutionized the industry.

The Rewards of Calculated Risk: Reaping the Benefits

In today's fast-changing world, playing it safe is a recipe for stagnation. Leaders who embrace a risk-taking mindset become catalysts for progress. They unlock innovation, inspire their teams, and drive positive change. (Look at what happen to Kodak?)

By venturing beyond the comfort zone and learning from both successes and setbacks, you can shape a brighter future for your organization, your industry, and the world around you.

So, take a calculated leap, embrace the unknown, and become the leader who REINVENTs the game.

About Adeline Tiah

I am an author, coach and a leading voice on the future of work. A big advocate of reinvention and founder of Soar Collective Asia (Soarcollective.asia ). I am also a co-founder/CMO of an ESG/AI startup (ESG-MD Ventures). Follow TROM.AI? for latest update on AI development and solutions.

Live Limitless. Lead Limitless.

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