Sustainability and Science over Ego and Vibes

Organisations who optimise for more of us instead of the best of us are doomed to decline.

Artificial intelligence is abundant, always-on and cognitively tireless.

Human intelligence is finite.

Sure, AI can run around the clock on the task and context you set it.

But the human brain can wander off and come up with unique ideas and solutions unprompted: in the shower, walking the dog, in the gap between meetings.

There is growing consensus on how this will impact the types of leadership, skills and capabilities that will matter most. I define the shift as one from volume-based to value-based leadership and work organisation.

The post-Covid purple patch for intent-based leadership, flexibility, autonomy and new ways of working has to some extent given way to a retrenchment towards command-and-control leadership styles and hardcore work cultures.

I predict that the organisations who waved the white flag on operating differently the moment the labour market turned will pay a heavy price in the long run for their failure to adapt.

If competitive advantage will be defined by human curiosity, creativity and judgment, it's hard to see how cracking the whip on hours, presence and activity will deliver the desired returns.

An approach to performance based on sustainability and science over ego and vibes is long overdue.