When visiting my parents years ago, I watched my then 90-year-old father’s oversized, arthritic fingers carefully push the phone buttons to re-order medicine from the VA. I smiled and told him what a rock star he is for adapting to technology. A Baby Boomer friend, who reluctantly learned to use her bank’s mobile app for deposits, is now thrilled with this time-saving convenience. Prior, she told herself and anyone within earshot, “I’m not tech-savvy.” To that, I say, “Enough with the excuses! Step up and get in the game.”
Technology will only become more prevalent in both our personal and professional lives. It’s time to morph or risk becoming irrelevant. Adopt a growth mindset to up your current skillset. For example, if your company is transitioning to a new software application or implementing AI, you can balk and complain about the change – or you can get on board with your company’s evolution. Why not take advantage of this learning opportunity and grow new neural pathways in your brain?
It’s not just individuals being asked to evolve. Corporations are morphing, in both their personnel structure and the way they serve their customers. I’m preparing to speak at a large company that, like many others in recent years, has done away with the traditional HR department. Instead, they provide a phone number and training videos. This way, managers are supported in learning what they need to know, including how to hire and fire someone. The idea helps foster accountability and leadership at all levels. More companies are going a similar route, outsourcing HR functions like hiring, payroll and benefits administration, which then frees them to focus on their core competencies.
But what about ways brands transform to serve their clientele? What’s perceived as innovative by one segment of the market may be met with resistance from others. Some of us remember the “New Coke” debacle when Coca-Cola changed their soda’s formula to meet what they believed to be consumers’ preference. The move created such a backlash that less than three months later, Coke returned to its original formulation. There was also a time when BMW resisted putting cupholders in their vehicles. Their attitude was that their cars were made for driving, not sipping lattes. Guess what? Due to customer demand, they morphed. You can now tuck your drink in a cupholder if you’re in a BMW. Marriott International created a stir as they renovated many of their rooms to attract millennials. The changes include the elimination of desks and desk chairs, a move decried by business travelers, who have been vociferous in their disdain for this change.
I’m an advocate for speaking up and speaking your truth. But if a company no longer meets your needs, you have a choice to do business with them or not. Choose a hotel that offers a desk, if that’s your goal – you just won’t be racking up those Marriott points!
While businesses figure out how to meet customer demands, on a personal level, you need to figure out how to meet the demands of the ever-evolving workplace. We’ve all had to become life-long learners, which is the only choice if you want to stay relevant.
