In a world of fear and negative predictions, we need people who believe in humans:
People who inspire for a better future.
It is a choice, which animal we feed: fear or hope!
…triggered by a repeating post of „European Leadership“ on LinkedIn:
Isn’t it funny: people keep telling me, they have „no time“ to learn or do „cool stuff“, because they are so busy with their work. In this article, I want to show another example where many people in HR, Controlling, IT and many other functions can save enormous amount of time! Let’s check this aspect of the Digital Transformation and what WE can gain from it.
Let’s talk about REPORTING!
Management just loves numbers, traffic lights or graphs showing where we are and what might come next. Before any project, investment, or just on a regular basis, there are thousands and thousands of people creating reports to satisfy this need to reduce risks, provide a planning base or justify investments.
I had to do quality reporting in our electronic development for years back in the 90’s – and even back than,
the manual reporting process felt
„dis-respectful“ to a intelligent life-form.
Let’s take a look how reporting has been done:
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The power of digital collaboration networks > no pictures, just a bit of my essence about scalable digital collaboration network impact
As in the offline world, networks are one of the most valuable success factors!
With this post I want to how I build a valuable personal network and what you can expect by what I have learned myself. I started building my networks in various platforms. It has been (and is) a wonderful journey full of appreciation, valuable insights, tremendous learning and unbelievable results. (like being nominated TOP HR Influencer by Haufe lately again)
Important for me – it is NOT about self-marketing in the first place, but what I would call „Digital Work Style“ – Working more transparent, granting others insights to my workflows, sharing questions and results early on, asking for feedback or examples from my followers and having valuable discussions online, is „the way I work“
Digital Reputation should be a nice SIDE EFFECT!
Powerful networks are an answer to complexity!
For sure I am far away from being what press calls an „influencer“ in terms of those YouTube stars, having more followers than famous news channels, but in my specific areas, I could manage to receive quite some attention. With this post I share how:
(mehr …)How to cope with complexity – a must see video with Dave Snowden, the inventor of the CYNEFIN framework (sense-making of systems for better leadership decisions) giving concrete insights:
1. How do we identify the system in which we operate?
2. Do we have the needed competence and attitude for complex or chaotic frame conditions
3. Are we able to switch tools, methods, formats, org design accordingly
Marion Riehemann posts on LinkedIn about the CYNEFIN framework to wake up Management reflecting on todays decision making and leadership behavior.
Keeping this in mind, we might address corresponding frame conditions in HR responsibilities like career models, assessments, employee dialogs, promotion criteria, recruiting, retention, reframing of skills and learning…
Wow, what an awesome visualization the Keen Folks put together here – but the content is even more amazing.
Learning from thought leaders across the industries has always been a great inspiration to me. For the second time now I have been invited to contribute myself some experience and thoughts to this collection of insights:
Check out their great web experience at https://thekeenfolks.com/bridge-digital-gap with their study results
Invest in realizing your achievements, not measuring it.
(mehr …)In physical meetings or conferences, we try to make a good impression (showing respect) with nice cloth, cool socks or shoes.
Since month I wanted to do this quick „amateur“ video to show you, what big differences the right digital tool-set for virtual or hybrid meetings makes. „Better done than (never) perfect (done)“ – it now became a 2 hour production… and I added many improvement tipps about what I have learned so far.
Please spend some thoughts on your „digital reputation“, who is responsible for it and how you want to be „seen“ or „heard“ by your audience, customers, colleagues, your team or leaders – it’s worth it.
Video takes just 5 Minutes.
Corona does not allow to meet physically in bigger groups and yes sitting in front of a screen does not sound much like Christmas, fun or and adequate compromise – but not having any celebrating together does not feel like an option either.
One big question of many managers, leaders, employees is: How to establish „informal exchange“ or keep/develop the „corporate culture“ in virtual environment. A Santa or Christmas party is a great way to experiment, test and learn!
Let’s collect options to spend some personally valuable time together, celebrating Christmas in teams, departments or even larger groups.
Let’s also see what we CAN DO in the digital world,
which could not be possible physically.
I have been invited to a Diversity Network for an inspiration Keynote / Excellence talk around Change, New Work Style, Trust, Leadership and Networks. My core statement: We CAN change the world, trust me it’s worth trying. I invite you to read my thoughts with additional comments and background… there has been no better time to start… now.
This quote is intended to be an inspiration to think about what drives us and me personally. Do I have a picuture of a desirable future for me or my kids? Do I go beyond „arguing about today’s issues“ by having constructive discussions on how things „COULD/Should“ be – and taking actions towards such a possible future. This is not just a task for executive boards or politicians, but for every single person – especially leaders.
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TheKeenFolks in collaboration with Marketing Expert Johannes Ceh (OurJobToBeDone) asked 14 thought leaders on how to remake business processes to become more efficient and profitable. It’s all about digital transformation.
I am honored to be part of this inspiring group of transformers in their businesses. Now you can download the summary with tips and thoughts about how to bridge the digital gab, how to transform your organization, based on their experience.
(mehr …)Being in home office for more than a decade (fully at home – 600 km away from my (no longer existing physical) workplace in headquarters) – here are some tips, to make life better during Corona Isolation
e.g. better food when having no/little time to cook:
My Top 10 Recommendations for Home Office:
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More than 2/3 of the energy needed for today’s cars is just wasted, creating heat and polluting our environment – why do I never read about this?
Whenever there is a technology change, peoples arguments go crazy! Remember, when the first iPhones came out – the main argument against them has been „greasy fingerprints“ on the screen.
We seem to forget what the purpose of those things are. It’s like with our old light bulb: 95% heat (waste), 5% light.
(mehr …)From a light bulb I want light,
from a motor, I want speed, not heat!
Inspired by a questionnaire of Johannes Ceh here some thoughts about Transformation of organizations in the digital age:
Transforming Systems means fighting a strong immune system:
Transformation starts for me with questioning the Orgnaizations stabilizing factors.
Our organizations developed an immune system to protect themselves form uncertainty, complexity, creativity and „disruptive change“ – to deliver stability, quality, predictability, reliability, to be able to manage the input and control the output.
Continuous improvement is ok and lean efficiency is the goal to create revenue.
Rules, Roles, Processes and Tools are part of this protection system.
So it’s not people doing something wrong, we have just setup frame conditions, which make them protect their functions, sustain their roles and even fight for their place in the big picture.
(mehr …)How much time do you really invest in learning?
Sometimes it feels like living on a different planet. For some people all the innovation, technology and (digital) options feel very disruptive, the future completely unclear, even frightening. Others can’t wait to get the next update…
If change feels like a revolution – re-think your priorities!
Electric cars, Wearables, Bitcoins, Virtual Reality… what a Buzzword bingo, but hey, there is nothing revolutionary or disruptive:
There have been electric cars 20 years before Ford or Daimler invented combustion engines, Virtual Reality came up in the 1970’s. I bought my first PDA (what we call Smartphone today) 1997 – the same year I started Video-conferencing too.
(mehr …)Immer noch keine einfache Antwort auf eine so einfache Frage?
Click here for this article in Englisch Language on LinkedIn
Ich war heute in einer internen Konferenz auf diese simple Frage sprachlos… jetzt auf der „Heimfahrt“ versuche ich ein paar Gedanken dazu zu sammeln – aber vielleicht ist da draußen jemand, der diese Antwort schon hat?
Was bringt mir (Führungskraft) die Nutzung von ESN (Enterprise Social Networks) also Organisations-interne Soziale Netzwerk Plattformen?
Es mag blamabel klingen, für jemanden, der sich seit mehr als 10 Jahren mit diesem Thema intensivst befasst, aber ich konnte und kann es nicht in einem Satz erklären. Könnt Ihr das?
UPDATE: nach der großartigen Resonanz in den Sozialen Netzen habe ich den ersten Schwung "Sätze" an den Ende des Blogposts gestellt - bereits 60!(mehr …)
Within the last two and a half years, we set the basis for a massive transformation at Continental. We re-designed learning, communication, change and support – as well as methods, tools and most of all the „attitude“ or mindset behind it. We built divers global networks with about 5000 People, created new roles to deal with constant changes coming from the cloud based software as a service setup.
About 25 tools, more than a dozend learning options, our own artificial intelligence social bot, a trust based manifest with our works council and many many other highlights are the results of two years of experimenting with leadership, culture techniques, technology, various forms of networks, decentral – crossfunctional teams and respect for humans at the first place.
(mehr …)„Planning for a future of constant change“ – has been the title of our panel at the Enterprise Connect Summit in Orlando, USA 2019. Interesting experience to be invited to this IT focused conference with our adoption experience.
There are great tools out there and digitalization makes big progress in terms of communication and collaboration infrastructure, software, hardware and services. The most heard missing piece is „how do we get people to actually use it, change their behavior… drive adoption?“ I am quite happy, that we have good answers at Continental.
If you like, you can watch the recording of our panel discussion now on YouTube:
Are we ready to be #human? Did you find your #purpose?
Here is my #vision of the #DigitalTransformation and #WHY I find it worth dedicating my energy to it…
#VUCArockers #NewWork #WOL #LeadingChange #myWHY
I love to support modern, digital/virtual discussion formats like this one:
The ESNchat twitter.com/ESNchat is a weekly chat on Twitter founded by @JeffKRoss. Thursdays 2-3pm ET (20:00 – 21:00 Uhr Germany).
Subject: ESN = Enterprise Social Networks.
Co-hosts & tweets: @jhonig1, @noahsparks @RitaZonius & @rainerbartl
Rainer Bartl invited me this thursday, February 07th to join in for topics around Leadership in the digital age, leading change and Networks.
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Some thoughts about various Organizational forms and some attributes – not to be seen as good/bad or old/new but to reference which organization is the best for what goal and which tools, what culture is needed to achieve it, plus a people view.
UPDATE!!! The power of diverse networks: Just 2 days after publishing my „draft“, I received 3 beautiful new versions of my notes – even in German and English from Andrea Hauch (see comments). As she needed it for herself, she asked if she could re-use it, which I of course agreed to. Now we all (at least the ones who appreciate this) can say a big thank to her for this awesome translation and upgrade. You can also download it below and us it „alike“ – not for earning money and with mentioning the authors: harald-schirmer.de and Andrea Hauch (mehr …)
VUCA = Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity … this term is used since some years to describe the challenges of the digital age. In my view this is used today in many negative ways: Creating fear, as an excuse, as a dogma and to separate people in „digital“ and analog sections. Of course there are many challenges in this „new world“ of connectedness, but as we know from any changes in the past – we will find ways to deal with them.
But there are also people, who do not only want to „deal“ with problems, but creating real improvements for people. Not driven by technological possibilities, but human needs, a positive mindset and the aim to make our world a better place.
#VUCArockers
I meet so many of such great people, who want to contribute in many different ways. They are intrinsically motivated, passionate, creative, often fear-less and very resilient. As I am a big believer of „words generate reality“ I try to find terms, which either already express what people do (like GUIDEs), try to „reload“ existing terms with new meaning or I create new ones, which make people think, creating doubts (if their understanding is the only one) or at least make people talk about the topic behind. Not in a destructive but engaging, inspiring way, I would love to have a discussion about
(not suffering from it)
Want to be part of this and „rock“ VUCA together ?
How do YOU personally ROCK VUCA?
write a blogpost, Twitter, LinkedIn…. and tag your post with #VUCArockers
Das Blackboat Bootcamp hat mich durch sein sehr interaktives und an konkreten/relevanten Perspektiven orientierte Format sofort angesprochen. #Miteinander ist für mich einer der Schlüssel für die Arbeit mit Menschen und ein Schlüssel, die neue digitale Welt für uns zu öffnen. Ich freue mich als Keynote Speaker zu einer der drei Säulen „People“ meinen Impuls geben zu können. Am zweiten Tag werden wir intensiver mit Masterclass, Deepdive und individueller Beratung. Wir können so viel voneinander lernen – dazu müssen die Rahmenbedingungen, Hebel und natürlich die Menschen verstanden werden.
Event Webseite / 12. & 13. November 2018 / Berlin Mindspace Coworking
Wer schon mal einen Vorgeschmack bekommen möchte, (mehr …)
This article – originally in German Language on LinkedIn received already more than 9000 views, 400 likes and about 70 valuable comments and more than 1000 re-shares (yes I am a bit proud) Sebastian Kolberg kindly provided the translation here:
Not a few ask themselves these questions. Here are some personal thoughts and the hope to encourage you to swim against the current more often!
No, this is not a call to revolution, but a well-intentioned inspiration,
to start with yourself,
no matter if you are a board member, team leader or employee.
Everyone can change the world – (mehr …)
..only happens, once great people make it happen. Today in the digital age, we can learn from each other, share our best practices and support us with appreciation – a very needed part of „resilience“ – as changing organizations, foremost needs endurance. In this post I will share the names of such great people (who are active on one of the best learning channels: #Twitter)
appreciation is like a muscle, that needs to be trained
Sharing their names can also be seen as my personal #appreciation to them, as they are giving me strength, knowledge and inspiration to constantly go on. (mehr …)
We use words to communicate- each one of us has it’s own network of thoughts about words. Specially in change initiatives, I find it highly relevant, to build a common understanding of the words used.
