How Leaders Can Nurture Agility and Adaptability in the Face of Technological Disruption

In this article we sought the insights of a seasoned industry expert to discuss the importance of building a diverse and entrepreneurial culture, the role of leadership and talent development, and provide advice for struggling executives.

Leaders play a pivotal role in helping organizations build the agility needed to navigate the challenges and seize opportunities that come with rapid technological change and industry disruption.

1. Building a Diverse and Entrepreneurial Culture:

"This is a 'forever' challenge. Many if not all people and organizations will develop inertia or get into their comfort zone at some point," says Wayne Chen Wei, CEO of CGL Consulting Business, underscoring how critical it was for many organizations to instill a mindset of continuous improvement across the organization.

He adds: "Leaders could be blinded by their dominant logic. Therefore, building a diverse and entrepreneurial culture and organization is critical for future success in these times of rapid change. This means hiring and developing more entrepreneurial leaders and talents with agile and resilient characteristics. At the end of the day, we need to change people -- or change the people."

2. Creating an Energizing Environment:

Agility and adaptability demand emotional energy from individuals. To ensure their teams are energized, Wayne says that "leaders need to create an environment that energizes and empowers people."

By providing support, resources, and a sense of purpose, leaders can inspire their teams to embrace change and take risks. Open communication channels, transparent decision-making processes, and opportunities for growth and development all contribute to an energizing work environment.

3. The Role of Leadership and Talent Development:

While selecting agile leaders is crucial, leadership and talent development still play a significant role in organizational reinvention. Wayne underscores the need for innovative developmental models that deliver a greater return on investment (ROI).

One way is for multinational corporations (MNCs) to partner with entrepreneurs on real business endeavors and projects, thus providing leaders and managers with invaluable learning opportunities. Implementing just-in-time feedback and reflection mechanisms can also facilitate continuous learning and growth.

Furthermore, with the advent of technologies like ChatGPT, new possibilities for innovation in learning and development arise. Agile leaders understand that the real challenge is not how to protect jobs from disruptive technologies such as generative AI, but how to constantly re-train people on how to leverage all these new tools emerging on the horizon.

When asked what advice he would give to executives who are struggling to keep their organizations flexible, innovative, and competitive in the current business environment, Wayne said: "Make sure to keep an emotional balance -- that is probably the most important thing for struggling executives (to thrive in this environment)."

Watch out for more articles on #leadership and #talentdevelopment's role in organizational reinvention. Stay tuned and follow CGL Consulting Co., Ltd. for more #insights on how to continue #creatinggreatervalue as part of your #2023goals and keep abreast of #China's exciting #talentmarket! #strongertogether