All the cool kids are talking about “disruption.” It’s a hot buzzword, but it’s the wrong leadership goal. The proper leadership objective is to create more value, not focusing on disruption itself.
There will be disruptions now and in the future because of the work which creates more value. Value proposition in the future is a function of these four factors:
- New business models
- Technology changes creating opportunities
- Globalization of markets
- Demographic changes, including expanded numbers of people coming out of poverty
Successful businesses and organizations adapt by abandoning what is no longer effective, or transforming processes, products, and services. This is where disruption happens.
Some speak about disruption as if it is a new thing in the world. Hardly! All kinds of systems have been disrupted in the previous thousands of years. Smart leaders recognize that history didn’t begin the day they arrived. Instead, they become a student of history, looking for patterns and insights which help them understand the contemporary world, and create more value in the future.
Your business or organization is a system, which interacts with other systems. These systems are perfectly designed to give you the results that you experience today. If you want different results, think about how to change the system.
This is the leadership opportunity: recognize the opportunity to create more value, pick a direction, and work with others to achieve a better future state.
Wise, experienced leaders know this: It’s most likely to begin with changing a personal pattern or habit, to provide more value to your organization. This is where the buzz phrase “disrupt yourself before you’re disrupted” truly applies.
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