In today’s ever-changing business environment, staying relevant is more critical than ever. In a recent podcast, Dave Stachowiak and Steve Dennis discuss strategies to help leaders navigate disruption and remain impactful. Their conversation sheds light on the mindset and actions necessary for leaders to thrive in an era of rapid transformation.

This blog highlights key takeaways from their discussion, drawing connections to industry insights and practical strategies for leaders at every level.

The Challenge of Disruption

Disruption has become the norm. The 2023 AlixPartners Disruption Index revealed that:

• 78% of CEOs reported significant disruption in the past year.

• 98% believe their business models must evolve in the next three years.

• Yet 85% struggle to identify where to start.

Leaders face a dual challenge: staying ahead of change while managing its complexities. This requires clarity, resilience, and a proactive approach.

Decoding Innovation: Sustaining vs. Disruptive Technologies

Clayton Christensen’s distinction between sustaining and disruptive technologies is essential for leaders. Sustaining technologies enhance existing products, while disruptive ones redefine markets entirely. Recognizing where innovations fit is key to shaping effective strategies.

Overcoming Barriers to Relevance

Two major barriers to staying relevant are self-sufficiency and entitlement:

• Self-sufficiency can prevent leaders from seeking outside help or fresh perspectives.

• Entitlement—the assumption that success is deserved—can hinder resilience.

As Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, aptly noted, “High expectations often correlate with low resilience.” Leaders must embrace vulnerability, lean into discomfort, and create environments where asking for help is encouraged.

This echoes themes from Michele L. Sullivan’s powerful talk, where she emphasized the importance of empathy and help-seeking in building collaboration. Sullivan suggested normalizing help-seeking behaviors across organizations—from leadership to shop floor workers—and even celebrating the best “helpers.” These small cultural shifts can drive significant change in collaboration and adaptability.

Strategies for Staying Relevant

Here are four practical strategies drawn from the podcast and broader leadership principles:

1. Ask for Help: Collaboration fosters innovation and unlocks fresh perspectives

2. Seek Insight Everywhere: Benchmark against the best customer experiences, even outside your industry.

3. Turn Pro: Commit to consistent excellence, even in the face of challenges.

4. Radical Acceptance of Truth: Face uncomfortable realities head-on and use them as a catalyst for growth.

The Future is Already Here

William Gibson’s words, “The future is already here—it’s just not evenly distributed,” remind us that innovation often comes from unexpected places. Leaders must remain curious, adaptable, and open to the unconventional.

Conclusion: Relevance is a Journey

Staying relevant is an ongoing journey of learning, growth, and adaptation. By fostering resilience, embracing help-seeking behaviors, and aligning strategies with the realities of today’s challenges, leaders can thrive in an ever-changing landscape.

The insights from Dave Stachowiak and Steve Dennis, combined with lessons from leaders like Michele L. Sullivan, offer a roadmap for navigating this journey. Let’s seize the opportunity to build organizations that embrace change, prioritize collaboration, and deliver lasting impact.

Please share your comment below, and if you want to go deeper into this topic I advise you my former posts:

• Asking for help

• What got you here won’t get you there

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