Kevin Gaskell seems to be meeting more and more people in business at the moment who are concerned that the economy is a bumpy ride and unpredictable. You can certainly feel a lot of turbulence in the air; Brexit, Trump, FX rates, inflation, Russia, Middle East, fake news etc. The truth is that if you could fly up to 100,000ft and look down at the last 50 years you would see that this level of disruption is actually quite normal.
The new normal
Over the last half century there have been over 400 financial crises – 35 of those have been in major economies. At the same time, the level of international trade has grown from $1 trillion to $30 trillion. This level of growth, and the supply chain development needed to feed it, offers a massive range of opportunity no matter what your business does. If we spool forward just 10 years it is forecast that by 2025 The Internet of Things will consist of 1 trillion connections and be a $6 trillion market.
More turbulence, more change – and more growth on a bumpy ride.
In other words, the current level of turbulence is good news – for those companies and organisations able to think forwards and recognise how lucky they are to be living in a period of such exciting opportunity.
Be an agent of change
This is the opportunity that visionaries, entrepreneurs and inspiring leaders look for. They recognise that they are lucky to be living in a time of change. New markets, new technologies, new opportunities. In this new world, it is not about looking for market share, it is about looking for opportunity share. Scanning for new business prospects, thinking in different ways, inventing new services and processes.
Whatever your role in your business or organisation, you have the opportunity to be an inspiring leader on a bumpy ride.
To encourage your colleagues or team to consider different possibilities – and to dare to dream about what could be possible; this is about changing the mindset and seeing turbulence as an opportunity and not only as a threat. Recognising, for example, that the European market will still exist in 2 years’ time and, while it may be different, it will still be there. It’s about encouraging new thinking within your organisation to determine how to be fast enough, and flexible enough, to get to the new market before others do.
Think differently, share creatively
The key to new thinking is the creation of a leadership culture which invites every member of the team to bring their ideas to bear. People are incredible. Give your team the permission to dream. Invite them to remove self-imposed limitations and constraints to reach new markets – or to compete more effectively in changed markets – and ideas will begin to flow.
This new world can seem strange and threatening but ignoring it won’t make it less so. Turbulence is energy. Look at major turbulence as freely available energy to drive the game forward. Be grateful that you are living in a period of energy and opportunity.
Do not consider it threatening. Instead consider it exciting.
If there’s one thing you should do today…
So my message is: embrace the change. Don’t think of the current turbulent bumpy ride situation as an opportunity to be a harbinger of doom, think of it instead as a stimulating opportunity to move forward in your business with energy, creativity and enthusiasm. And most importantly, free up the constraints around your team to allow them to bring those fresh and inspiring ideas to the table.
Written by KEVIN GASKELL
View All Speakers and follow us on Twitter
Do You Have Blinders On? as Confirmation bias is a term we’ve heard a lot over the last few years as science has become a debate topic and you hear qualified experts providing completely opposite interpretations on the same topic. But what role does it play in your life if you aren’t doing studies and […]
The Psychology of Attendee Behavior: What Drives Engagement? In the ever-evolving world of event planning, one question remains at the core of success: What truly drives attendee engagement? Understanding what keeps people interested, active, and returning to events is both an art and a science. By leveraging The Psychology of Attendee Behavior science principles, event […]
The Essence of Authentic Leadership: Embracing Genuine Influence with Erin Hatzikostas In an era where leadership is often synonymous with corporate jargon and pretense, the concept of authentic leadership emerges as a beacon of hope and integrity. Authentic leadership transcends traditional leadership paradigms by emphasizing transparency, genuine relationships, and a commitment to personal and organizational […]
Go ahead and search ‘happy employees lead to successful companies’ and you will be bombarded with consistent uplifting messages about employees and happiness (LinkedIn, Fast Company, Business Insider, Fortune). Just about every content piece promotes employee happiness benefiting organizations at large. That is why, contrary to consistent media, I couldn’t believe that Phil Rosenzweig in The Halo Effect completely disagreed. With the […]
In today’s fast-paced, ever-changing world, one thing has become abundantly clear: Authentic Leadership Matters more than ever. It’s not about being perfect or having all the answers—it’s about leading with integrity, vulnerability, and a genuine connection to your team. Authentic leadership is the foundation for building trust, fostering collaboration, and achieving meaningful results that go […]
You’ve seen it before where Celebrity Speakers Are a Waste of Money. A big conference rolls out the red carpet for some A-list celebrity, hyped as the highlight of the event. But when they hit the stage, all you get is a generic, uninspired speech that could’ve been ripped from a self-help book. 💰 Thousands […]
How to Craft Powerful Stories that Can Drive Culture Change There is an old adage that says: IF YOU WANT TO LEARN ABOUT A CULTURE, LISTEN TO THE STORIES. IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE A CULTURE, CHANGE THE STORIES. I had a first-hand experience with this very early on in my career. The MD of a […]
Unleashing Inspiration: San Diego’s motivational speakers Transforming Conferences Across California Introduction: In the vibrant landscape of California, where innovation meets ambition, San Diego stands out as a hub of motivation and inspiration. The city is home to a cadre of exceptional motivational speakers, individuals who possess the power to ignite change, foster growth, and propel […]
Our Mission:
© All rights reserved 2025. Designed using Voxel
