Timeless Advise to Succeed in a world under continuous Tech Disruption

I had an opportunity to participate in Professor Terry Krammer this summer on Technology management offered from UCLA Easton Technology Center covering many business cases of recent and past technology disruptions. In finale, professor left the student with following piece of timeless advise to succeed in a world under continuous disruption with Tech:

1.When launching a new product or service think viability of the tech near term. Is it ready for prime time adoption- are the people ready to adopt, is the technology ready to scale, is this the right time.

Strategize using the pressure diagram - Company Value, Market, Competition, Public Policy, Technology, Customer Preference. And always bring it together with the "So What" for your business strategy.

2. Notice most new ideas are centered around immersive improved customer experience. Think about customer eccentricity and how you are improving life for the community.

This about what do Roger 5 Factors predict about your product and services on Advantage, Compatibility, Simplicity, Trialability, Observability.

3. Platform based businesses eliminate assets or reducing assets by efficient utilization. Asset based business may not be lucrative as tech based.

4. Scale is a requirement for any technology disruption at large. Ask yourself - Will a lot of people will adopt? Platform based business volumes matter. Do you have enough scale?

5. Incumbents have an advantage in disruption. Consider a lower discount rate for an internal disruption. 

6. Most Technology disruption are job killers. This is a looming issue for society and be a part of solution to help with the offset by proactively helping people re-skill and re-tool to adopt to changing requirements of a modern workplace.

7. Turnaround environment have a very different set of challenges. Find out what you need to be successful in the new environment. Run a tight business but make sure you are clear about the end goal and big picture

Context matters! The world is a complex place. What worked in one environment, circumstances, product, people may not work in the next.

8. Do a plus delta on yourself on why is that successful leader in that role. Look for role models different than yourself and be aspirational.

9. Be tech aware. There is always something new in the marketplace. Identify threats, competition, opportunity and how it impacts your business.

10. Never be dismissive of tech. People who dismiss tech are outrun. Disruptive Tech has different adaption rates but a good one eventually disrupts. Be flexible to adapt and change course.

11. Remember there are three key elements of leadership - strategic, operational and people. You have to get all three right.

12. Be right a lot. Not just planning but execution of what you say as well.

Is your batting average good? Are you right 3/4 of a time? if yes, that makes you an A player!

13. Know what motivates people. Set standards and hold people accountable.

14. Interactions and integration are complicated things. Talk to people frequently to know what motivates them. Every person values are different and get motivated differently. Strive know what drives your team members - intellect, money, social connections, problem solving, job security, power, etc.

Ask people about their best and worst job. How they refer to their jobs says a lot about a person's drivers. Aligning to roles to individual drivers can lead to high success in business.

15. See yourself through success of others. Makes sure it not just about you and it’s about the team. Serving back is the most satisfying things to do. At low moment in your life, go help.

16. Substantiate all the time. Just don’t do something because it’s cool. Operational/practical aspects of "making it happen" are key to success.

17. Don’t react to everything. React to things which matters. 

18. Worry about strategy. Where will you invest, what is the business model and how would you protect. Interview a lot of people before you give your recommendations.

You have a hypothesis going in. Validate it for the new environment and in context. Be open to changing decisions.

19. Best mentoring relationship are overtime and the ask comes later. Don’t kill the feedback loop. You are the 95% of beneficiary of any person giving you feedback. Learn, grow and build the relationship. Don’t make it transnational.

20. On strategy get the context right. People have different values. For diversity and inclusion, you have to accepting of different point of views.

Turn off the cynics by modeling leadership behavior. Don’t get relaxed. Don’t get to cruise mode in 10K. Aim high 35k feet before you get to cruising altitude.

21. Always do you part, be serious and come prepared. Most businesses are very competitive environment and require focused attention.

22. Last but not the least, don’t be greedy or reactive. Save yourself from self inflicted wounds. Most people do work is a reasonably save, healthy progressive environment.