Fit For the Future

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...

There's been a lot of news recently about leaders of large organisations in Australia forcing their teams to return to the traditional office full-time. But that's a sure-fire way to limit both your talent pool and your competitive advantage. The future of work is no longer confined by geography or the traditional nine-to-five model. https://swiy.co/go-teams-without-boundaries If you're a leader,...

To be a future-ready leader, it’s useful to foresee coming trends, changes, and challenges. But it’s just as important to bring your team along on the change journey. It’s not enough to predict the future; you also need to create an environment where your people are open, willing, and excited to innovate and adapt. https://swiy.co/go-leadership-2025 I do a lot of work with leaders, teams, and orga...

Imagine being able to turn your documents into engaging, podcast-like discussions. You can upload any text, from company reports to study notes, and in just a few clicks, it creates a realistic conversation between two AI personas discussing the content. It’s like having an instant expert breakdown of complex information, making it easier to digest. Let's talk about an amazing AI tool with a wide...

As a leader, you’re responsible not only for managing now but also planning for the future. But it’s not always easy to find the time to look ahead. Scenario planning helps you navigate the uncertainties of the future with clarity and confidence. Youj can’t have certainty, but knowing what’s over the horizon helps you make better-informed decisions now. https://swiy.co/go-over-the-horizon Over the...

When building AI capability in your workplace, you can find many ways for it to help you personally as a leader – in improving your decision-making, boosting productivity, and helping you lead more effectively. It’s equally important to help your team leverage AI – by sharing your knowledge, providing resources, and empowering them to harness it in their professional (and even personal) lives. htt...

Unfortunately, most of the media stories about AI are negative, and if that’s all somebody sees, it's not surprising they might be hesitant, reluctant, or even scared of using AI at work. And that's a problem for you if you're a leader who wants to use AI effectively in your teams. There's one key thing you can do to overcome this fear - and it doesn't take much. https://swiy.co/go-overcoming-fear...

What decisions are you making with AI? It's a powerful tool for enhancing your decision-making process, leading to more informed, accurate, and effective outcomes. It’s not about AI replacing your human judgment but augmenting and informing it, so you can make better choices to shape your future. https://swiy.co/go-ai-better-decisions What decisions are you making with AI? I don’t mean decisions a...

How much should you integrate AI into your workplace? One company went too far, and faced a backlash from employees - and everybody else who heard the story. It's important to treat as a tool to help people. It must be about people first, technology second. https://swiy.co/go-human-or-machine How much should you integrate AI into your workplace? AI is a powerful tool, but one company went too far...

In today's fast-paced world, you can't just keep pushing your team to change unless you create the space for them to adapt, change, and innovate. Unless you do this, even the people who want to change will get frustrated that they keep bumping into obstacles. https://swiy.co/go-create-space-for-change I’ve been doing a lot of work with leaders recently about building their AI capability because, o...

Change can be challenging, especially with a resistant team. As a leader, you can help your team embrace change through simple, low-risk strategies that gradually make a difference over time. Start small and watch your team's mindset shift gradually. https://swiy.co/go-navigating-resistance Is your team resistant to change or more open to embracing it? There’s a lot of change in the world outside,...

Some people are surprised when AI tools like ChatGPT fabricate facts and information. But the problem isn't that AI can "make up" stuff; it's that people don't realise that's possible. When you understand this, you can blend human intelligence and machine creativity to get better results. https://swiy.co/go-creative-ai I was running an AI workshop last week with a business, demonstrating how to us...

AI is already here, but many organisations are holding back to ensure safe, ethical, and responsible use. That's fair enough, but what are you doing in the meantime to get your people comfortable, confident, and optimistic about using it? Be proactive, so your people are ready when you're ready. https://swiy.co/go-ai-early-adoption Many organisations are holding back on letting their people loose...

If you're not already using AI actively in your team, it's time to take the leap. Don't wait until you have the perfect strategy and policy. Take small steps now to get quick wins, then move to small-scale projects, and eventually tackle the big initiatives. https://swiy.co/go-take-the-leap I was in Sydney last week, speaking at an international conference about thinking like a futurist. Of course...

There are two quick and easy ways to get value from AI: boosting your productivity and enhancing your creativity. AI can efficiently handle repetitive tasks, freeing up time for more strategic work. It can also spark creativity by giving you more ideas for you to choose from. https://swiy.co/go-fast-and-loose Are you playing fast and loose with AI? Whenever somebody engages me to speak at their co...

As a leader, how are you going with creating change in your team and in your organisation? I've been thinking about change a lot recently because I've been working with many leaders and managers, particularly in the AI space. AI has created a lot of external change, and many teams and leaders are looking at how to build their AI capability. I always say to them, "It's about people first and techno...

AI champions are the new leaders in today's digital world. Find them, support them, and give them the right tools and resources to help them lead and transform how we work. https://swiy.co/go-your-ai-champions I was in Melbourne recently, speaking at a conference of executive assistants and personal assistants about embracing the digital revolution. When my client booked me last year, it was very...