We very much live in a time of great change.  Maybe all "times" seem like times of great change to those that live in them, but I think there are many indicators that this is a time of increasing change...especially in the world of business.  I think that one of the most significant changes happening on the business landscape is that the nature of competitive advantage is changing.  This is becoming a powerful dividing line as it becomes increasingly clear that some organizations and some communities get this and some do not. 

Because of the nature of business today, there is very little that you have or do that cannot be replicated by your competitors.  They can replicate your technology, your processes, etc. and this means that they can replicate your efficiencies and your price points in most cases, and this means that efficiencies and price points will not provide competitive advantage.  Today competitive advantage is about innovation and adaptability.

This (among other things) requires us to take a new and different approach to leadership.  Innovation and adaptability are driven by diversity, inclusion, trust, and generative communication all of which are things that we tend to not be very good at.

Management / leadership has gotten pretty good at dealing with spread sheets, budgets, sales forecasts, schedules, etc., but when it comes to tapping into the raw potential of employees and the relationships of employees, I would say that there is a great deal of room for progress.

One thing that cannot be replicated by your competitors are the ideas, perspectives, dreams, relationships, questions, life experience and unique gifts that make up your workforce.  Nobody else can tap into that...they question is; can you tap into it?  How much of it are you even letting in the door?

-joe

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