mike brewer
Lessons from a Bird on the Wing for Business Success
Photo by Tina Hartung on Unsplash
As businesses strive to adapt to a rapidly changing environment and remain competitive, some lessons can be learned from the world of nature. One such lesson comes from observing birds on the wing. Here are three key takeaways for businesses:
- Embrace Adaptability and Agility
Birds are incredibly adaptable creatures. They can change their flight patterns in response to changes in wind currents, weather conditions, and other factors that may impact their flight. Similarly, businesses must be able to adapt and pivot quickly in response to changes in the market, customer preferences, and other external factors that may impact their success.
To remain agile and adaptable, businesses should create a culture of innovation and experimentation. This may involve encouraging employees to take risks, test new ideas, and develop processes and systems that enable quick decision-making and action.
- Foster Collaboration and Communication
When flying in a flock, birds constantly communicate with each other. They share information about wind currents and other factors impacting their flight and adjust their patterns accordingly. This collaboration helps them to fly more efficiently and reach their destination faster.
In business, collaboration, and communication are also critical for success. Teams that work well together and communicate effectively are more likely to achieve their goals and deliver high-quality results. To foster collaboration and communication, businesses can invest in team-building activities and tools that facilitate communication, such as project management software, messaging apps, and video conferencing tools.
- Prioritize Resilience and Endurance
Birds are renowned for their endurance and resilience. Some species, such as the Arctic Tern, migrate thousands of miles yearly. This requires a high degree of physical and mental toughness and the ability to adapt to changing conditions.
Similarly, businesses must prioritize resilience and endurance to thrive in today’s fast-paced, competitive environment. This may involve developing a strong corporate culture that values perseverance, grit, and strength and investing in employee training and development programs that build these skills.
In addition, businesses should focus on developing a growth mindset that sees challenges as opportunities for learning. By prioritizing resilience and endurance, companies can weather the storms of uncertainty and emerge stronger on the other side.
Embrace Reality
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
Peter Drucker, the father of modern management, was a prolific writer and speaker on business and management. His views on exploiting new realities remain relevant nearly two decades after his death. And we have more than a few new realities to exploit.
Embrace Change
Drucker believed companies should embrace change and find opportunities in new realities rather than resisting them by hanging on to the status quo. He argued that companies must constantly adapt to new and unique circumstances to remain competitive. This requires a deep understanding of the changing business landscape and the ability to think creatively and take calculated risks. It involves reading, networking, and listening broadly.
Knowledge Work
One of the key new realities that Drucker identified was the rise of knowledge work. He believed that knowledge workers, such as engineers, scientists, and managers, would become the most valuable employees in the modern economy. Does this remain true in the AI world? He argued that companies must focus on creating a work environment fostering creativity, innovation, and collaboration to attract and retain the best knowledge workers.
Technology
Drucker also recognized the importance of technology in the modern business landscape. He believed that companies need to embrace technology as a tool for efficiency and to create new products and services. He argued that companies must be technologically literate and invest in research and development to stay ahead of the curve. So true in today’s world.
Think Global Act Local
Another new reality that Drucker recognized was the globalization of the economy. He believed companies must be globally oriented to seize new markets and opportunities. This requires a deep understanding of different cultures and adapting to business environments. Even if you don’t offer a product globally, you can apply the learnings locally.
Adaptive AI
Photo by DeepMind on Unsplash
The advent of adaptive AI is set to revolutionize the way we approach multifamily property management. With the ability to adapt and improve performance over time, these systems can help property managers to streamline processes, increase efficiency, and make more informed decisions.
One of the key areas where adaptive AI can have a significant impact is the area of tenant screening. Traditional tenant screening methods can be time-consuming and involve manual work, such as checking references and credit reports. Adaptive AI systems, on the other hand, can use machine learning algorithms to analyze data from various sources, such as social media profiles and online behavior, to create a more comprehensive profile of a potential resident – a renter’s resume. This can help property managers make more informed decisions while considering fair housing laws about who to rent to and can also help reduce the risk of rent defaults.
Another area where adaptive AI can have a big impact is in the area of maintenance and repairs. Traditional property management systems often rely on manual processes, such as phone calls and emails, to schedule and track maintenance and repairs. Adaptive AI systems, however, can use machine learning algorithms informed by IoT sensors to predict when equipment is likely to fail and can automatically schedule maintenance and repairs based on this prediction. This can help to reduce downtime and save money on repairs in the long run.
Using adaptive AI in multifamily can significantly improve property management systems and labor efficiency and effectiveness. With the ability to adapt and improve over time, these systems can help property managers to make more informed decisions, reduce costs, and provide a better experience for team members and residents.
However, it’s also important to note that with the increasing use of adaptive AI, there is a need to be thoughtful and mindful and have proper data privacy and security measures in place to protect the data of prospects, residents, and property managers.
Autopilot
Photo by Kevin Bluer on Unsplash
Autopilot
Airplanes use autopilot software that can manage the aircraft under certain conditions using the craft’s hydraulic, mechanical, and electronic systems. It can do things such as stabilize speed and height as well as the heading. Mostly used on passenger planes, pilots generally use autopilot to lead the aircraft in a controlled manner except for departure and landing.
The use of autopilot technology has migrated well beyond the world of air travel. Decades ago, the term autopilot was briefly used to describe conventional cruise control. Tesla has branded the term Autopilot to refer to their feature that combines land-centering steering with adaptive cruise control. Many other cars offer advanced driver-assistance features. Some offerings rival or even exceed Autopilot’s primary capabilities.
Even the most advanced systems require the driver to pay attention and take over as necessary, often using a driver-facing camera that monitors driver engagement at all times. We are far away from leaving it all in the hands of the car while drivers read, surf the net, or otherwise zone out. Still, with or without an enhanced driver support system, many people are driving with their minds on autopilot.
Living On Autopilot
Have you arrived at your destination and not remembered anything about the drive? Ever listen to podcasts while driving and realized that you missed whole sections because your mind was elsewhere even though your intention was the listen closely? Earlier this week, I published this thought on the topic.
It seems to me that people are living on autopilot more than ever these days. The 24/7 deluge of information coupled with reliance on (and addiction to) devices is taking its toll but there is no slowing down the technology train. Even as I was writing this missive, my work was held up by the need for yet another multi-factor identification – stop writing, sign in to the system that I was auto-signed out of when the 14-day cycle expired, get the code from my device, input it, and back to my interrupted thoughts.
When it comes down to it, the only variable that you can change is you – your habits and practices. And those feel like the hardest of all to rewire but small changes are possible and when practiced regularly, they can lead to bigger and more permanent changes.
Here are a few suggestions for turning off your autopilot and tuning in to your life this week.
Focus Time – Build in a block of time daily for creative dreaming. Set it as a calendar appointment and hold it in high regard. This focus time is for expanding your thoughts beyond the next item on your to-do list. Meditate, journal, take a walk, or just sit for a while – without the digital leash of your device.
Do Something Differently – Take a different route on your commute and take note of the things you see along the way. Start a new hobby. Bonus points if you select activities that require the use of your hands like gardening, pottery, or painting – making frequent checks of your phone more difficult.
Set A New Goal – It can relate to your career, but it doesn’t need to. Some easy ones:
Take a walk/run before work three days a week
Sign up for and attend a class on any subject that interests you
Ask someone you trust to mentor you
Read one of the book recommendations you’ve been meaning to get to
Connect With Others – Loneliness is rampant, especially after the last two years. Lean into that awkward feeling and make the effort to get to know someone new. Ask a new neighbor to join you on a walk or to get a cup of coffee. Check out interesting events happening near you – anything from farmer’s markets to concerts in the park – and show up!
This short blog post is a simply a prompt and a jumping-off point. My encouragement to you today is to break out of your autopilot and wake up to all the possibilities. Surprise yourself with a self-determined and intentional life.
Have you ever found yourself living on autopilot? How did you break the pattern? Share your thought with us!
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