Presentation for DMX Dublin 8 March 2017 We are living in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world. Businesses must address this reality, or risk their own future. The possibilities of digital channels and technology can inspire innovation and creative spirit, but it also causes stress as people and organisations are faced with change. We often hear that transformation it is really about people & culture. So what does that mean? What are the characteristics of 'digital' culture and how do you foster it? What are the leadership skills needed to drive change? How do you bring people along with you as you lead change? And what does transformation look like when it is people-centric? Eva will draw on her years of experience leading digital in organisations such as the BBC, Amnesty International and Group M to consider how organisations and employees can be fit for the digital age.

1. Fit for the future…
Eva Appelbaum
@evaapp
...what is leadership & culture in a digital age?

2. Volatile
Complex
Uncertain
Ambiguous

3. @evaapp

4. @evaapp

5. @evaapp

6. A human revolution
@evaapp

9. @evaapp
70% of ‘transformations’ fail

10. People are hardwired to resist change
It triggers our threat response.
There are more neural pathways to the threat state
than the reward state. And stress is socially contagious.
When we feel threatened, we cannot access the
reward state – the creative, open, collaborative
part of our brain.

11. 80% feel stress on the job
only 13% of employees are engaged
@evaapp

12. The good news….
We recognise what we need to do
Enable organisations and people to thrive
amidst this change
@evaapp
Cultivate the kinds of culture &
leadership that support this

13. Working with complexity – not too tight not too lose
Think systemically
‘Weave’ intentions, to create a containers
Design adaptive organisations – economies of scale vs ability to respond
‘Seed’ the system with good ingredients (purpose, meaning!)
Make connections / build relationship
Jean Boulton, Embracing Complexity, 2016

14. The machine view - Order
Standardise
Best practice
Plan
Cause & effect
Economies of scale
Jean Boulton, Embracing Complexity, 2016

15. ‘Digital’ is not a silo
…. or technology, or a channel, or format, or
function or a person or team’s
responsibility.
Start thinking about mindset, culture, skills
and behaviours of the digital age.
@evaapp

16. Technology enabled – inside and out
Outward focus – customers / audience / user
A culture of experimentation
Agile, flexible, able to move or make decisions at speed
Environments and processes that fuel collaboration
Empowered, accountable staff
Clear purpose
Brave leadership
Design is valued
@evaapp
Emphasis on learning

17. “People don’t buy what you do, they
buy why you do it.” - Simon Sinek

19. Agile – mindset, attitude, structures
Not just a dev methodology & scrum masters
@evaapp

20. Andrew
Mullins,
Informa
in
Deloi4e
UK’s
“Building
your
digital
DNA”

22. ready to take the lead, empowered to get things done,
courageous in saying and doing what matters, authentic in
thoughts and feelings, and acknowledging others?
eager to prototype and experiment, and be prepared to fail, foster
confidence among your team and colleagues, learn from success
and failure?
empathic with others, understand what motivates them, and
want to engage and draw on the skills, motivation and energy of
customers, business partners and stakeholders?
ACCOUNTABLE
AGILE, EXPERIMENTING
COLLABORATIVE
@evaapp

23. consistently asking questions, noticing how things might
be different, what needs might be emerging, what’s new
and what’s possible, seeking perspectives and experiences
of the unfamiliar to stretch your learning and
development?
confident in not knowing, energised by uncertainty, able
to turn seemingly unsolvable problems into opportunities?
Are you resilient to not be thrown off course, even as the
course ahead is not clear?
MANAGING AMBIGUITY
CURIOUS
(Specific technical skills can be taught)
@evaapp

24. Digital mindset & capabilities
≠digital and tech skills!
@evaapp

25. @evaapp

26. Role Model –
Walk the Talk
Inspiring Vision
Empathy High Challenge
Transformational Leadership
@evaapp

27. Impact on people
More
Less
High Challenge
Less MoreEmpathy
Anxiety
Empowered
Loyal
Collaborative
Innovative
Go the extra mile
Apathy Comfort
@evaapp

28. THANK YOU!
@evaapp