Shifting from a Linear Society to a Global Economy Will Demand Equal Parts IQ and EQ

Today’s digital economy may seem like a far cry from the community-based farming society of the early 1900s. Each iteration of the Industrial Revolution has set the stage for the world we’re in right now—a global melting pot of information, business, and education, accessible at the touch of a button. From mechanical to mass production, the dawn of the Internet to the Internet of Things. While our ancestors had decades to adapt to the incremental changes brought about by advancing technology, the same cannot be said for us.

Think about all that’s happened over the last few decades. Your primary care physician was once the single source of truth for your healthcare needs; now you can consult WebMD in a matter of seconds.

The library has always played an important role in society, serving as a citadel for learning and literacy. In recent years, it has incorporated a variety of new technology innovations such as 3D printing, e-gaming, and digital artifacts to keep pace with modern users’ needs.

In the workforce, we’ve got folks who grew up with rotary phones working shoulder to shoulder with digital natives and those born-in-the-cloud. Multi-generational teams are tasked with blending old and new working styles, models, and dynamics to meet today’s economic, societal, and global demands.

There’s Opportunity in Every Challenge

We each have conscious and unconscious biases which have been shaped by our upbringing, cultural and family norms, and the relationships we’ve fostered over the years. What we’ve seen, experienced, and learned is a byproduct of our environment. A radius once defined only in miles, then expanding to states through trains and automobiles, then countries through aviation, and now, instant global access from our living room couch. And let’s face it; in a few years, your next family vacation may involve a rocket ride through space. Hey, you never know.?

Technology is democratizing access at a much faster speed than people can comfortably adapt. Instead of a generation of learning followed by a generation of change, like the impact of Rock and Roll, we have sweeping generational shifts happening all in one lifetime. MTV to YouTube to Tik Tok. This is both energizing and daunting as it requires a willingness to adapt, an inclination toward curiosity, and the courage to take a leap, while respecting and appreciating the many different perspectives and experiences of others.?

Looking towards a Modern America

When we visualize what our ideal future will look like, it’s not uncommon to have more questions than answers. But it’s in this reflection that we can more deeply dissect the risks and rewards of our decision-making.?

As I move between a leader, professional, a friend, husband, and father—this is the stream of consciousness I face daily...

Risk or Reward: The right to vote is the core to democracy, yet many still struggle to get out there for a variety of reasons. Should paper-based ballots, long lines, and manual voter registration take on new forms of ePollbooks, Internet Voting, and Tabulators? Or do the potential risks to trust and security present too much of a barrier? ?

Risk or Reward: As parents and educators, is our primary responsibility to protect our children from the perils of the internet, or should our focus be on opening them up to a world of imagination, creativity, and learning that a laptop and internet connection can provide?

Risk or Reward: Will recycling be enough to secure the future of our environment, or should we be placing more of an emphasis on repurpose and reuse? ?

Risk or Reward: Are carbon credits as important as Bitcoin in a society that is considering the long-term effects of climate change??

Risk or Reward: Diversity, equity, and inclusion is top of mind to organizations right now, but how are they facilitating and championing these changes? How are they communicating their purpose and living their values? And… is it making a difference? How do we know?

Doing the Math?

As leaders and team members, we must equally tap into both our Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and our Emotional Quotient (EQ) to put these new possibilities into practice. At CSI, we say progress is our measurement. This is a core value that you’ll hear used tongue-and-cheek in nearly every level of the organization because we live by it. We recognize that we’re called to do more. The word “done” is a milestone, not the finish-line. Change is the new norm, but a journey of iterative steps rather than a series of “light switch” moments will demand collaboration, compassion, and curiosity from every one of us. ?

I believe we are at a precipice of opportunity to untap hidden potentials, solve some of the world’s greatest challenges, and achieve our own personal aspirations.?And most importantly, technology is a powerful enabler to these outcomes, not a replacement for human creativity, empathy, and innovation.?

From supporting the right to vote and increasing equal literary access for all, to improving healthcare with global research and cross-country collaboration; a global mindset will be required to create a positive rippling impact on the world around us. ?

As a glass-half-full kind of guy, I am confident we are up to the challenge and that our future is bright indeed.