Fit For the Future

As a leader, your role is to help others make sense of the world. It’s about filtering the noise, choosing what really matters, learning how to adapt to external shifts, and then sharing those insights in a meaningful and engaging ways. Your ability to create clarity and purpose shapes how you, your team, and others succeed.https://swiy.co/go-leadership-is-sense-makingAs we start a new year, and you reflect on your role as a leader, what do you think is your most important role?I’m not talking about making New Year’s Resolutions, setting goals for the year ahead, or creating a 2026 strategic plan. What about YOUR role as a leader?As a futurist, I know one of my most important roles is to be a sense-maker.Whether I’m speaking on a conference stage to a large audience, running a workshop with a smaller group, or facilitating a group of senior leaders in a boardroom, everybody’s looking to me to help them make more sense of the world.They want to understand what’s going on, and want me to help them filter it and choose what’s most relevant for them. Then, they figure out how they can learn, adapt, and adjust what they do to fit with what’s happening externally. And finally, they want me to share that in engaging and meaningful ways — for themselves, the team, and the organisation.And you know what?This is not just a crucial role for me. This role — which is the skill of sense-making — is essential for everybody. Especially for leaders and managers, but for everybody else as well.To summarise the three parts:1. Choose: Understand what’s happening in the world and filter it to choose what matters most.2. Learn: Based on what’s happening externally, determine what we need to do internally to be able to operate effectively in that world.3. Share: Communicate what you have learned in meaningful and engaging ways, so that they inspire action.If you want to know more about this, I’m running an online presentation very soon. It’s my first one for the year, and it’s about sense-making. I’ll share with you some practical, useful things you can do to understand more about the world, to learn how to adapt, and most importantly, to share it with your team and other stakeholders.If you’re interested, it’s free, it’s public, it’s open to everybody — so you’ll find a link to register here. And feel free to share it with your team and network as well.Register for the virtual masterclass:https://swiy.co/go-leadership-is-sense-making

If you’re serious about staying relevant and building future-ready skills, start sharing what you learn. You don’t need to become a professional podcaster or YouTube influencer, but having a platform – even a simple one – gives you the discipline to take in information, make sense of it, and communicate it clearly. That habit (which is the skill of sense-making) sharpens your thinking beyond just passive learning.https://swiy.co/go-learning-out-loudWhat does your learning plan for the future look like?I was speaking recently at the Financial Advisers Association of Australia National Congress, helping advisers remain relevant and fit for the future.In the Q&A segment, somebody asked me a question about podcasting:“I want to start a podcast, but I’m really new to it. How can I get over that fear of thinking that other people will dismiss it, and how can I build confidence – and then go on to build an audience?”In the moment, I gave a response along the lines of:“Just get started! Everybody starts off from that place, and with practice, you’ll gain confidence and build that audience.”I still stand by that, but let’s take that a bit further.If you plan to turn your podcast into an income stream, then, yes, focus on building your audience. But if you’re not, use your podcast as part of your professional learning network.In other words, whether you’re podcasting, blogging, publishing a YouTube channel, or regularly posting valuable content on LinkedIn, these are valuable activities in their own right. Not just to share learning and ideas with others, but for your own learning as well.When you start to invest in these activities, you’re making a commitment – even if just to yourself – to learn.You have to:absorb informationask questionsfilter what’s relevantpackage it for othersmake it relevant and engagingand share it with others.All of that makes you a better learner, not just a better content creator.This is part of the future-ready skill of sense-making.Sense-making is about examining our complex world, choosing what’s important, absorbing it, and sharing it. It’s once of the most valuable future-ready skills you can have – at work, at home, and in your community.So what are YOU going to do?To be a sense-maker, you don’t need a podcast, blog, YouTube channel, or other outlet. It might just be sharing regularly on a Slack channel at work or presenting regularly at staff meetings. Whatever you choose, commit to doing it nowAnd to REALLY get value from it, commit to doing it regularly. That’s because you’re investing not only in the content, but the platform. And that makes it easier to do it next time. And the next time. And the next time.It’s like building a railway. You make a big commitment to get the first train on the track (because you first have to build the track!), but then every other train takes less effort.If you don’t have a platform like this already, set that as a goal for 2026.And if you’d like to know more about sense-making and other future-ready skills, join my free online presentation TOMORROW.Register for the virtual masterclass:https://swiy.co/go-learning-out-loud

It’s easy to keep doing what worked in the past, but that comfort can quickly become irrelevance. Look at libraries — which where once silent spaces for reading, but are now vibrant community hubs full of energy, events, and connection. They didn’t change just for the sake of it; they changed because the world changed around them. And, to their credit, they reinvented themselves to stay relevant and useful. Is that true for you, your team, and your organisation? If you’re still operating with yesterday’s mindset and behaviour, you’re falling behind.https://swiy.co/go-letting-goAs we're coming up to the end of the year and looking ahead to 2026, can you truly say your business or organisation — maybe even your industry or sector — is fit for purpose for the future?I was in Melbourne last week, running a workshop for a group of libraries about how to build a culture of change and innovation.I told somebody about this a few weeks ago, and he said,“Libraries? Why do libraries have to be innovative?”And I said,“Have you been to your local library recently?”Libraries are so different from the way they were when I was at school and uni! You might remember those days, when you had to be completely silent in a library. Even a whisper earned you an angry “Shhh!” from a librarian or another patron.Now, libraries have completely transformed into community hubs. People can speak, shout, and run around. Students go in for study groups. Pre-school kids have fun activities and sing-songs. Guest speakers run presentation for the community. My local library recently invited students from a local school to sing Christmas carols.So, yes, libraries have changed. But not just because they felt like it. It's because the world changed.In the past, when libraries – and books – were a key source of information and knowledge for their community, it was important to be quiet so you respected other patrons.Now, books are still relevant, but they are no longer the main source of information for most people. So, libraries have evolved to provide other services for the community. Because of that change, libraries today are still relevant, valuable, and attractive to their customers.Is that true of YOU as well?I see so many organisations – and even entire sectors – still operating in a way that worked in the past, but is no longer fit for purpose for the future.When the world was changing more slowly, what you knew in the past would serve you well going forward. But increasingly, that’s no longer true.I’m not saying everything in the past is irrelevant, but everything in the past is not AUTOMATICALLY relevant.One of the most important future-ready skills we need is the skill of letting go. It's not just about learning, but “unlearning” as well. In your personal life, in your professional role, and in your workplace.I’m going to talk more about this in my upcoming online presentation about future-ready skills. It’s free, it’s public, and it’s open to everybody. Please register, and invite others in your team and network as well.I’ll see you in the future.Register for the virtual masterclass:https://swiy.co/go-letting-go

When uncertainty rises, performance often drops – but it’s not just about risky, it’s about whether you feel in control. A surprising psychology study using electric shocks and virtual snakes shows that people are more stressed when they can’t predict outcomes, even if the danger doesn’t increase. That means building mental agility and a sense of agency are key to staying resilient in unpredictable environments.https://swiy.co/go-snakes-under-rocksLast week, I was speaking at the Financial Advisers Association of Australia National Congress, talking about being fit for the future – especially about being able to manage uncertainty and still perform well.It’s obvious that people do worry about their future, and also that it affects their performance. But you might be surprised to know what contributes most that stress.In 2016, researchers conducted an experiment to measure the relationship between stress and uncertainty. They designed a computer game where participants were asked to turn over rocks on the screen, and were given a mild electric shock if there was a snake under a rock. The researchers could change the game in two ways: Increase the danger by placing snakes under more rocks, or increase the uncertainty by moving the snakes between each turn.As you would expect, participants felt more stressed when there were more snakes. But they felt even more stressed if they didn’t know whether a “safe” rock might have a snake under it next time. They would rather face a dangerous environment with more snakes, as long as they felt confident they could eventually determine their location.In other words, they were more stressed by uncertain outcomes than predictable negative outcomes.This is true for all of us. We’ve been through a lot of disruption and change – five years ago, it was COVID, now it’s AI. Tomorrow? Who knows?One of the key skills for the future is the ability to be adaptable and flexible. Like it or not, that IS our future. And we need to manage a world full of change, uncertainty, crisis, and chaos.I’ll be talking about that, and other future-ready skills, in my upcoming online presentation. It’s free, public, and open to everybody. So please register – and invite your team and network as well.I’ll see you in the future.Register for the virtual masterclass:https://swiy.co/go-snakes-under-rocks

As a leader, you must ensure you provide – and continue to provide – AI education and literacy in your workplace. The real risk is not in the technology, but in the lack of education about using it. When you introduce AI into your workplace, you must also include professional development for your team to build the right mindset, skills, and practical knowledge about using it.https://swiy.co/go-education-before-automationAs we’re nearing the end of 2025, I wonder whether you feel you and your team have the right skills to be ready for 2026 – and beyond?The ABC website recently published an article about ACM – Australian Community Media – using AI to assist their journalists – in writing and editing stories, checking them for legal issues, and so on. The story led with this headline:“Staff in regional ACM newsrooms concerned about rollout of generative AI model”The article quoted a journalist who had used AI (Google Gemini) to help write an article (nothing wrong with that), reviewed it (good!), but was shocked to find it contained factual errors. The article goes on to quote her union representative, who stood up for her, saying:“That journalist caught it, by doing the fact checking, but had they not, it obviously would have been a disaster. Not only for the journalist, but also for the person who had been wrongly accused.”As I was reading that, I thought, “Well, d’uh! Journalists being asked to do fact-checking? Isn’t that what they are SUPPOSED to do???”Whether they ask somebody on the street, interview a politician, or ask AI, fact-checking is a basic part of journalism. It should be just part of the automatic response to any information before publishing.The problem here is not with the journo – who in fact did the right thing.The problem is with her union rep, who was outraged by AI’s (lack of) “intelligence”.And the problem is also with the ABC, who considered it newsworthy to report on somebody doing their job!And obviously, the REAL problem is the lack of basic understanding about AI – from employees, managers, and our national broadcaster.This is a problem not only in the media, but in organisations everywhere. People are being given access to AI without appropriate education and training on what it can do, what it can’t do, and how to use if effectively, safely, and responsibly.Whether you call it AI literacy or digital literacy, this is a key skill for the future. Young people get it, but many others don’t.There are many people in roles now who knew how to operate effectively in the past, but the world has moved on, and they might no longer be fit for the future. That’s why it is up to all of us – especially leaders and managers – to educate and provide appropriate professional development, so we develop the skills for the future.For more about this, join my online presentation soon about future-ready skills.Register for the virtual masterclass:https://swiy.co/go-education-before-automation

In a world full of data, noise, and information overload, a key skill for the future – for yourself, your team, and others in your community – is you ability to make sense of it all. This is the skill of sense-making, and it helps you absorb, filter, and share what matters now and for the future.https://swiy.co/go-make-it-make-senseHow good are you at making sense of the world for yourself and others?A few weeks ago, I was in Byron Bay, speaking at a sales conference for a large tech company, and this client wanted me to help their top salespeople engage more with their customers through stories. They were particularly interested in stories about AI, but they were happy for me to share some storytelling skills more broadly.I love the fact they were focusing on storytelling, because that’s still one of the best ways to engage with people and enhance customer relationships. As a salesperson, it’s too easy to obsess about products, benefits, and features; but it’s the stories that capture, captivate, and remain memorable long after you leave the room.Storytelling is part of the future-ready skill of sense-making.The Institute for the Future and other futurist organisations have identified sense-making as a key skill for being future-ready. It has two parts.First, sense-making is about being aware of what’s happening in your world – full of data, information, overwhelm, limited time and attention – and “making sense” of it, so you can absorb, filter, and prioritise what’s relevant and meaningful.The second part of sense-making is then sharing that with others – through stories, data, facts, research, and other methods – in a way that doesn’t overwhelm them, but is meaningful, relevant, and engaging.Either of these components is valuable in its own right. Together, they make sense-making a superpower for the future.For more about this and other skills for the future, join my final public presentation for the year, which is coming soon. It’s for everybody – not just leaders – so please register and extend the link to others in your team and community.Register for the virtual masterclass:https://swiy.co/go-make-it-make-sense

Your customers know what they need next – but maybe you’re not paying attention. Shifting expectations, subtle frustrations, and new aspirations are all signals that can shape how you evolve your products, services, and experiences. To stay competitive, meaningful, and relevant in the future, focus on solving your customers’ problems and helping them achieve their goals.https://swiy.co/go-future-signalsAre you listening to what your customers are telling you about the future?I was in beautiful Hobart last week, speaking to a retail franchise group about what the customer of the future looks like, what they should be doing to engage more with them, and how to stay competitive in a crowded market.I love that they are very customer-focused – and truly customer-centric. Their slogan is, “Make your customer’s day”. So they are always looking outwards to see what they can do to enhance their customer experience and improve their customers’ lives.When I finished my presentation and was waiting for my ride to the airport, I was sitting in a little cafe and I saw a sign that said:“This is the sign you’ve been looking for”How appropriate!When I was talking about the customer of the future, I made the point that you should always be looking for the signs your customers are giving you about what they want. And then look beyond your current customer to explore what other customers you might attract in the future.As a futurist, I’m often asked: What’s the number one, most important thing we should be doing to be future-ready?And I always say this:Solve your customer’s problems.It’s easy to get caught up in everyday work, the crisis of the day, operational stuff, and other internal issues. But if you’re not solving your customer’s problems, they’ll find somebody else who is.So make this your number one goal: Ask your customers what matters to them. Look for the signs. Listen to what they’re saying. Then do whatever you need to do to help them get where they want to go.For more, download my worksheet about solving your customers’ problems. Your customers HAVE changed – but have you?Download the worksheet:https://swiy.co/go-future-signals

You might think it’s OK to be cautious with AI, but there’s a risk of being TOO cautious – waiting for the perfect tools, the perfect policies, the perfect rollout. But whle you’re waiting, smaller, more agile organisations are experimenting, learning, and sprinting past you. You don’t have to be reckless, but you do need to make space for trying, failing, growing, and trying again.https://swiy.co/go-the-ai-readiness-gapAre you willing to risk it all for AI?I’m not talking about falling in love with an AI chatbot! I’m talking about your role as a leader.I recently ran a small-group workshop about AI for leaders – from different industries, sectors, sizes, and roles. You might think the bigger organisations would be way ahead, but the opposite is true.The larger organisations – with deep pockets, dedicated IT teams, and many, many more resources – were lagging.Why? Because they were taking a slow, cautious approach.Why? Because they think they have more to lose.Market share.Reputation.External regulation.Internal status and power.On the other hand, the smaller businesses tend to be much more proactive with adopting AI. They’ll try an AI tool and, if they don’t like it, they’ll drop it and try something else.They have some informal guidelines, and build policy on the fly.There’s no question a smaller business is more fragile. They might rely on a few products, a few key staff, a few important customers, or one business model.But when you’re fragile, you can also be more agile.Larger organisations, on the other hand, have much more buffer against problems. Even when things change a bit, they can stay steady.But if you’re too steady, you won’t be ready.Especially with something like AI.You can’t wait for the perfect tech.Or the perfect policy.Or the perfect training.You can’t policy your way into AI!AI is so new and moving so quickly you must be willing to be a bit more fragile.Don’t be reckless, but don’t get stuck either.Be more agile, like a small business or a startup, but also leverage your assets and resources to accelerate the experience curve.For more, join my free public online presentation this week, where we look at this and some other issues for leaders as you’re looking at leveraging and embracing AI.Register for the virtual masterclass:https://swiy.co/go-the-ai-readiness-gap

The biggest risk with using AI in your team is not the technology, but how you use it. Deloitte discovered recently how badly things can spiral out of control when they use AI-generated content without doing even basic checks. This should be a lesson for all leaders: Embracing AI is important, but you also need the right education, oversight, and mindset to avoid getting it wrong.https://swiy.co/go-the-deloitte-ai-scandalYou might have seen the recent story about Deloitte caught cheating in a half-a-millon-dollar consulting report it created for an Australian government department.Deloitte’s consultants used AI to research and generate some of the report. Nothing wrong with that. But then it didn’t do even the most basic fact-checking about the AI-generated content, and released the report riddled with errors. Specifically, some of the references cited in the report simply didn’t exist, and others did exist but didn’t say what Deloitte claimed they said.When they were caught out, Deloitte claimed these AI “hallucinations” didn’t change the report’s recommendations.But that’s no excuse!The fact that some of the references didn’t even exist shows Deloitte didn’t even bother reading those references. They weren’t using AI as a research tool. It’s hard not conclude they they were just using this AI-generated content to bulk up the report and make it look more authoritative.Deloitte has apologised, and apparently they are returning some undisclosed portion of their fee. We don’t know how much, even though as taxpayers, we should be told. But the government is refusing to say.This is not just a Deloitte problem.It’s a major problem for many leaders and organisations trying to use AI now.You absolutely SHOULD be using AI as a research assistant. I do that all the time, and it saves me hours of Google searches and other research.But it’s only a starting point. It’s an assistant. You then need to apply your own human expertise to the artificial intelligence.That might sound obvious, and yet many people in many workplaces don’t get it.And it’s not their fault.Many organisations and leaders are giving their people access to AI without anywhere near enough education and professional development. Sometimes there’s none at all!I’m stunned at how few organisations are providing the appropriate level of education for one of the most powerful tools available in workplaces now! AI is not just the future – it’s with us right now! So, that education is crucial.If you’d like to know more about this, join my free public online presentation next week about AI for leaders – for 2026 and beyond. And please invite other leaders in your team and network as well.Register for the virtual masterclass:https://swiy.co/go-the-deloitte-ai-scandal