Humanizing Disruptive Change

By Ruba Al-Zu’bi as part of +SocialGood’s coverage of the International Government Communication Forum

As the fear of the inevitable technological invasion grows fast, the gap in communicating and understanding the change and its potential impacts becomes even larger. Let’s dive into some thoughts while we have the time to do so.

The future we dream about

My version of the dream would be: a future that is built by empathetic and compassionate humans thriving on continuous change to better the world they live in. But this might not be the version that most youth agree to. The temptation of the new technologies that are emerging every day is hard to resist.

New concepts such as ‘Artificial Intelligence’, ‘Augmented Reality’, the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’, the ‘Internet of Things’, and many others, are undoubtedly shaping the present and the future. But, what are we all doing to prepare the present to embark toward the future? Old theories of change management might have focused on smooth and slow integration. Today, disruptive and exponential change is the new school of action that inspires and excites the new generation.

Why change? Why innovate?

Admitting that change is happening and that it is happening fast, do we all know why is it happening? My version of the answer is: we change something to make it better; more efficient, more effective, more attractive, or more applicable. Today’s change might not fit those categories. Change might just happen for the sake of change and to feel part of the trending thing. Around 3 billion people have access to the internet and thus, their cause of change is being shaped by a limitless space.

People at the heart of change

Regardless of the shape of the future each of us aspire towards, and the unlimited causes of the change that is already happening; my fear of the future is summarized in one question: How do we keep people at the heart of change?

On one hand, this exponential and disruptive change is utilizing data taken from people with and without their consent. Data that might be real but might also contain fake and inaccurate information.

On another hand, while the impact of change on people’s lives can’t be more direct and clear; measuring impact and understanding its various correlations is left behind.

Both sides of that people-centered concern could be addressed only if we ensure that our youth are empathetic and compassionate humans that cannot help but to keep changing the world to better people’s lives. Education and educators as well media channels need to lead a journey of humanizing communication for an ever-changing future. Evidence-based and people-centered communications are key to shaping a meaningful change that is built around the unlimited scientific possibilities, social cohesion and human dignity. A new frame of ethics embedded within an innovative social contract is needed not only to guide but more importantly to enable and protect change.

There is no time for the future to arrive, the ‘Future is the Present’.