The Darwin Matrix Blockchain Vision.

Blockchain technology will help to create a new form of leadership and we must be ready for it. We will be governed by leaders who have empathy, are compassionate, pragmatic and caring. This technology will create the conditions and enablers for this to happen. As more and more power and trust resides in the collective will of people, so there will be more empathy, more understanding of how we should treat each other as human beings. The benefits, as we have seen in smaller organisations, and institutions are increased performance through a common sharing of ownership vis-a-vie through technology and by developing an empathetic style of leadership.

To borrow a phrase from Niels Bohr, the physicist (commenting on quantum physics) - “Anyone who is not shocked by the implications of the Blockchain technology phenomenon has not understood it.”

Biological systems that can adapt (and adapt quickly) are always the winners in the race for survival. It is no less the case for human centric and economic concerns that the advent of the blockchain design thinking process and the leadership, implicit in the change, is adopted quickly.

Charles Darwin said “its not the most intelligent or the strongest that survive but the ones that are the most adaptable to change.”

Today with Blockchain technologies, it has never been more relevant to business and human kind, except for one important difference - time is not on our side - it’s working against us, or at least to the people or institutions that don't respond quickly enough. Disruptive technologies have a way of causing misery as well as huge benefits for people and leaders with foresight and vision. 

Whole industries and institutions can and will crumble under the ever increasing weight of this revolutionary blockchain technology and it will happen within a relatively short time at an exponential rate.

Many enthusiasts of crypto currency such as Bitcoin, cannot see the woods for the trees. Its not about exchange of a new type of currency - but a new language that transcends barriers that will help define the way we choose to live. We must educate our future leaders to understand and grasp these opportunities.

There is a lot of speculation about Bitcoin as a viable cryptocurrency, a universal currency for the future. The technology revolution, though, is not about Bitcoin its about Blockchain. Incidentally, Bitcoin has not been compromised through blockchain, rather it has been at the point of entry (in the wallet) that it has been snagged or intercepted. 

Blockchain represents a new way of transacting value on the internet, and is perhaps the single most important technological revolution in modern times since the internet was born.

Blockchain is described as a ‘military grade technology, which tends to downgrade its importance, somewhat. It does, in fact, raise significant questions about the future of the importance of the individual in a messy and less than deterministic world 

The world we have seen is moving faster and faster to open systems and away from closed systems. Collective wisdom is playing an ever increasing role in helping to determine our future. Wikopedia is a good example of an open system which is constantly changing - but is at the same time, also transparent. 

Uncertainty?

When there is uncertainty about the future - the markets get nervous, completely understandable. When we worked as innovation consultants for corporations - we worked on 25 year business plans and worked back to the present moment. We were in effect hedging our bets on future outcomes, many times through these futuristic workshops that were sometimes uncannily correct, we were able to not only anticipate future scenarios but were able to take action to offset and mitigate adverse future conditions. Certainty in a global business is key to growth and this gave us confidence to negotiate or to invest in future technologies. That is why we are convinced in the paramount importance of blockchain - that will support and help to facilitate a collective vision for the future. A future where we will all have a say. ‘Behavioural insight” workshops: Internet of Value (IoV) was a prediction that came out of one of these workshops.

So what does it all mean?

DLT - Distributed Ledger Technology, is immutable and in ‘real time’ - it is a powerful way to bring ‘people power’ - and democracy into the driving seat. It brings trust and a level playing field like, we have not witnessed before, in human history. It's a quiet and highly disruptive technology with huge benefits, that will affect everyone on the planet.

It means with the advent of blockchain and crypto currencies that we have a way of re-shaping the world through attaching other real values in addition to the crypto currency unit. Transactions that can support a brand promise which reflects our own values in life. Any advertising agency will tell you how brands can affect our perceptions and behaviour. Just look at Coco - Cola, its brand alone is worth over ￡100 billion. Imagine if a crypto currency could demonstrate a brand value? Well, it already does and it is in the brand promise that we can wield value and credibility.

Ethereum is the most exciting of the crypto currencies potentially in that it embodies other aspects in its functionality, including Smart Contracts - which is in effect automated and non changeable executable contracts. The implications for collaboration in blockchain are on an immense scale. There are many examples of supply chain scenarios where all the information can be shared (with permissions) on a non penetrable platform, for example; personnel details can be shared across all functionalities that contribute to the design and construction of cars or buildings.

The open sourced blockchain technology is a much greater capacity for inter-organisational collaboration and powerful eco-systems that are greater than the sum of the parts. The flow of value across the eco-systems are greatly enhanced through trust, collaboration and seamless exchange of information through a single source. The entities (NODES) in the network combine and are like the synapses in the human brain. If we consider that the internet is the communication highway, the blockchain technology - is the part that underpins these communications and gives rise to consciousness, both individual and as we shall see on a collective level. With our organisational and leadership workshops - we have already seen empirical evidence of collective team power through individuals developing trust and confidence in each other. There is a correlation exhibited both at neurological and at a technological level.

The revolution and the genie are already out of the bottle. The trust in the system is in the code and the mathematics. It is already verified and cannot be changed without altering all of the blocks in the chain of communication.

The problem with a capitalist based system is that there is little or no ownership unless you are an owner or shareholder.

So the blockchain underpins our (DLT) Distributed Ledger Technology, but it isn't just about secure and verifiable information - it goes far deeper than that. It is about trust, reflection and the future of people and their well being everywhere. Its about compassionate leadership - and the capacity for our future leaders to embrace the opportunity that the blockchain technology and philosophy represents. 

Resurrecting Global Empathy through Blockchain Technology Everipedia is already being developed by the original co founder of Wikopeidia - Larry Sanger. Trying to understand other peoples point of view is the best way we can build a future together.

People and Leaders of institutions with vision are already on seeing the potential for blockchain technology. Banks such as Barclays, I quote “ Our belief is that blockchain is a fundamental part of the new operating system for the planet.”

IBM is working on over a 1000 blockchain projects.

$Billions are spent on charges to transfer funds to places where there is famine and trauma throughout the world, this is rectifiable through blockchain technology.

“Decentralised collaboration and communication means working more like a co-operative.” Matthew Roszak Co-founder and Chairman of Bloq, Chicago. 

The future of blockchain is how it might be progressed through the Co-operative movement and institutions concerned with fair trade, energy and the future well being of society. They should be the pioneers and initial beneficiaries of blockchain to create a better world for everyone. Thats why we need a new form of compassionate and pragmatic leadership that looks at the holistic picture. 

Declaration of interest: we have long standing involvement in global innovation, helping companies with their strategy and business models. We are architects of design thinking and can help to integrate leadership processes that will help to prepare companies and organisations for blockchain technology. We are helping to adapt businesses and organisations by analysing their business models and by educating leaders both in the private and pubic sectors, worldwide. 

For more information on Leadership courses on Innovation and Blockchain design thinking contact [email protected]