Fit For the Future

Do you have a workfluencer in your team? And if you don't, maybe you should! If you have a culture you’re proud of, workfluencers are powerful brand voices for you - helping attract the right sort of talent, long before an interview. It’s time to support, nurture, and trust the people already championing your workplace. https://swiy.co/go-workfluencers In a nutshell, a workfluencer is an employee...

As a leader, you need to be regularly scanning the horizon and planning for the future. But if your people aren’t inspired to bring that plan to life, it won’t go anywhere. Strategy without execution is like a car without fuel. For real progress, you need to engage your team and connect your plan to meaningful work. https://swiy.co/go-from-planning-to-progress You might have big ideas and a clear...

Strategic change often stalls after the initial excitement fades, especially when the change involves future scenarios that might be uncertain, unknown, or challenging. Instead of letting all that strategic thinking go to waste, focus on small, immediate actions that fit into existing workflows rather than creating extra work. Don't just inspire people in the moment; start building a culture where...

Do you have a bad attitude at work? Specifically, do you have a bad attitude about AI at work? If you’re a leader or a manager, having a bad attitude about AI is not just bad for yourself – it’s bad for your team as well. Those bad attitudes are contagious. We should be excited and curious about AI. We should be appropriately cautious about using AI. And we should be unsure about AI because we don...

Adopting AI successfully isn’t about the technology – it’s about your culture. As a leader, your role is not to dictate AI use, but to create an environment where people feel empowered to explore, leverage, and share AI-driven innovations with everybody else. https://swiy.co/go-ai-in-your-team Do you have hidden AI talent in your teams? In the last week, I had two very interesting conversations wi...

If you’re still dragging your feet about adopting AI, don’t! It isn’t some distant future technology – it’s already here, and in five years it will be as normal as smartphones or spreadsheets. Smart leaders are already using it to enhance their customer experience, boost productivity, and make better decisions. And don’t just wait until you’re ready for the technology; you also need to bring your...

When giving your team access to AI, don't wait until you have finalised every policy and governance detail. Like learning to drive, adopting AI works best when people get hands-on experience early. Bring your people along on the AI journey now, to ensure they build the skills, comfort, and understanding needed to integrate AI effectively into their work. Don't wait for the perfect moment - start n...

Your organisation can use AI in two key ways - but it might be using only one. The first is embedding AI into core operations, where it works behind the scenes to streamline processes like loan approvals, insurance claims, and medical diagnoses. The second, and often overlooked, is giving people direct access to AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, AI agents, and deep research assistants. If you’re seri...

Change isn’t easy, and everybody in your team will respond to it differently. Instead of trying to push everybody to embrace change, focus on finding the "bright spots": small success stories where change is already working. By highlighting these successes, you create a culture where change feels possible, practical, and positive. https://swiy.co/go-find-the-bright-spots Whenever a client engages...

How do you stay on top of all the changes with AI? It's evolving fast, and staying in touch can feel overwhelming. Instead of trying to track every new development yourself, find an AI champion in your team and give them the support they need to lead AI adoption and integration. https://swiy.co/go-ai-champion AI Champion: The Role Every Team Needs to Navigate AI I run regular AI Leaders Labs for c...

What do you know about this new Chinese AI app called DeepSeek that’s taking the AI world by storm? DeepSeek, a new app similar to ChatGPT, became the #1 downloaded app on the App Store when it was launched recently. You might have heard about it in technology news, but it’s also in the mainstream media. But how can we separate the hype from the reality? Let’s talk about three things about DeepSee...

As we step into 2025, it’s clear we will have much more change and uncertainty - but also opportunity. Your path to success depends on how well you can lead yourself and navigate your team through the year. Your focus should always be about people first: guiding your team, customers, and yourself through the complexities of the year ahead. It’s not about predicting the future but staying adaptable...

With up to five generations working side-by-side, your workplace is more diverse than ever. This offers many opportunities for collaboration and innovation, but it also presents challenges, like differing attitudes toward hybrid work, financial pressures, and conflicting priorities. If you're a leader who can embrace these differences and foster a culture of mutual respect, you will be better equi...

How do you cope when employees, customers, and other stakeholders are more demanding than ever before? It's impossible to solve every problem, but you can partner with others - even outside your industry - to solve complex challenges and meet rising demands. Use cross-industry collaboration to unlock innovative solutions, share resources, and strengthen your organisation. https://swiy.co/go-cross-...

The future of leadership is about navigating complexity with clarity and purpose. As technology reshapes industries and societal expectations evolve, leaders must foster human connection, champion transparency, and embrace adaptability. Success will come to those who prioritise learning, sustainability, and collaboration, creating workplaces where people thrive. In a time of uncertainty and rapid...

The world is changing faster than ever, and we need teams to be embracing change. But many people are slow to change, reluctant to change, or resistant to change. If that's true for your team, maybe YOU are the problem! Many leaders unintentionally say and do things that create a change-resistant culture. Recognise these words and actions, and replace them with a new mindset and behaviour that enc...

Do you feel like you're only person championing AI in your organisation? It can feel like an uphill battle, especially when you face restrictive policies and scepticism. The key is to respect existing boundaries but still find ways to use - and demonstrate - AI to create value through small, safe projects. Lead by example to inspire curiosity, build trust, and create a ripple effect. https://swiy....

At what level are you using AI, and what’s your plan for using it next year and beyond? Whenever I deliver my Leveraging AI keynote presentation at a conference, I always include an extra “hands-on” AI masterclass afterwards - run over Zoom within three months of the conference. The keynote gives them the big picture, and the masterclass shows them how to get immediate value from AI - whatever the...

Imagine giving every customer and employee the personal touch, even at scale. By analysing behaviours and preferences, AI lets you tailor experiences for customer journeys, learning paths, or timely interventions to re-engage people. https://swiy.co/go-the-human-touch-amplified For example, all four baristas at my local cafe know exactly what coffee I want because I’m a regular, and they don’t nee...

As a leader, you're no stranger to disruption! But what if disruption didn’t just happen to you? What if you could actually create it? Constructive disruption is about being proactive, not reactive - making change happen before the world forces it on you. Discover the three essential habits for embracing this mindset, so you’ll be better equipped to navigate uncertainty and turn disruption into op...

AI is not just the latest tech trend; it's a fundamental shift in the way we work. As a leader, follow this three-step strategy for engaging with AI, integrating it into your workflows, and bringing your team on the journey. https://swiy.co/go-unlocking-ai-in-2025 Do you know how you will be using AI in 2025? Last week, I delivered the closing keynote presentation for the Local Government Professi...

You don’t need a futurist to tell you about all the external change happening in our world. And I’m sure you know that because of all this external change, you, your team, and your organisation also have to be open to change, embrace change, and even lead the change. But change isn’t easy, and different people respond differently. 🙅 Some are resistant to change. 🚫 Some actively reject it. 😬 Som...

Are you engaging your team in open and honest conversations about AI? There's no doubt AI is here to stay, and people have different opinions about it - from fear to excitement, and everywhere in between. Create a space for open conversations with your team about the the benefits, their concerns, and anything else. In this way, you're building a culture that's ready for change. https://swiy.co/go-...

As a leader, you must focus on the right priorities as we move towards 2025. There are many internal issues - like flexible work, diversity, and AI - but the most important focus should be external - on your customers. https://swiy.co/go-future-focus Are you focusing on the right things when you’re thinking about your work and workplace in the year ahead? I was reflecting on three conversations I...

Good leaders provide ongoing professional development to their team members, but you can go one step further: The BEST leaders empower their employees to lead their own development. Give them the resources and trust to pursue personal and professional growth, and you not only create better employees – you help them become better people. https://swiy.co/go-employee-led-development What are you doin...