Paralysis is often the result when a business begins to discuss the future. There are so many ways that it might need to change in order to cope with the ever-changing business and technological environment. There is an absolute overload of information, a data glut, and it can leave a management team convinced that the only way to change with any safety and certainty is reactively.
But actually it is possible to enable the future, to assess the future state and put strategies in place to ensure productive outcomes. The secrets are in leadership and innovation, but what do these words mean in the context of future preparedness?
One of the big enablers for the future of business in Australia, says Holly Ransom, (pictured above) CEO of Emergent, is a flattening out of the generational structure. This requires strong leadership at all levels and innovation around management processes. Ransom will be speaking about leadership at the Australian Engineering Conference in Brisbane in November.
“We are going to have to re-define the way we think about ‘leaders’,” Ransom, whose business specialises in the development of high performing intergenerational workforces, leadership and social outcomes, says.
We've got to be thinking about how we can harness the thinking, the capability, the unique skill sets, talents and experiences of all contributors in the workforce. I think one of the big things we've got to be alert to in Australia is the dramatic shift that's going to happen in the demographic makeup of our workforce. We're going to have a fast transition to a predominately Millennial workforce within the next decade.”
Because of the nature of the work that engineers do, long-term workforce planning is vital, Ransom says. Engineers naturally think five to 10 years, and more, down the line. While project planning is always a long-term game, so too should workforce planning take the same approach.
How do we ensure a smooth transition between the generational groups?” she asks. “How do we engage in two-way learning in our workforces that not only helps to create greater success in future markets but also delivers results for us today? That is one future aspect that is vital to be considering right now.”
Sometimes when we talk about topics connected to the future of business there is not the sense of urgency that we probably need,” Ransom says. “But this stuff doesn’t happen overnight. If you look at your workforce make-up and you haven’t hired or retained graduates for the last five years, you no longer have any young talent coming through.
So what does that mean for you 10 years from now?”Holly Ransom has developed an enviable reputation for generating innovative solutions to complex challenges in the corporate world as well as in the Government and not-for-profit arenas.
In 2014 she was appointed to chair the G20 Youth Summit by then Prime Minister Tony Abbott, and is the youngest person to have been named as one of Australia’s ‘100 Most Influential Women’. The world’s youngest ever Rotary President and an accomplished global keynote speaker, Ransom has delivered a peace charter to the Dalai Lama and has won the hearts and minds of audiences across six continents. In the Australian media Ransom has been recognised for her unmatched expertise around intergenerational economic and social issues.
I think there are great examples of companies doing generational engagement really well and I’ll likely share some of these during my time at the Australian Engineering Conference,” Ransom says. “There are several individual examples of great leadership culture and companies that are pioneering in a particular way.
”When we look for these examples we often look towards the tech sector. But I don’t like pointing to that as the be-all and end-all. I like to find examples in government institutions and public policy settings, in industries generally considered less dynamic.
"I like to look at organisations dealing with bureaucracy and other constraints, but that still somehow find a way to be nimble. I enjoy discovering the stories of leaders who were courageous enough to step off the beaten path. Let's see what we can learn from how they did that and let’s think about how it applies to the way we lead.”
To learn more, secure your spot at the Australian Engineering Conference where Holly Ransom will discuss ways to become an enabler of positive change.