Why business leaders must step back to move forward
Now more than ever, consulting business leaders need space to think beyond the immediate – to future-proof your business, strengthen leadership and stay ahead of change.
Futurespace Courageous Conversations: Embracing digital transformation
Are you ready to embrace the changes that accompany Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications? Are you upskilling and reskilling your staff to avoid being left behind? AI is already impacting our industries heightening the need for companies to start preparing now for a future with AI.
Digital technologies can aid efficiency and help organisations navigate the significant disruptions experienced in our industry in recent years, including skills gaps, cost increases and sustainability challenges. It is essential to welcome digital adoption if you are to have a place in a more advanced and productive industry.
The State of Digital Adoption in the Construction Industry 2024 report shows skills and financing are the biggest barriers to digital adoption. But businesses that invest in new technologies are reporting strong returns, with the use of an additional technology associated with higher revenue and profit growth, and more projects delivered on time and under budget.
We spoke to Tonkin + Taylor Group Managing Director Tim Fisher following his attendance at the the FIDIC (International Federation of Consulting Engineers) Global Leadership Forum (GLF) Summit in Geneva earlier this year. He said that, by 2030, it is estimated 30% of hours worked today will be automated by AI. Read Tim’s comments here.
In September, the FIDIC GLF published a paper about How artificial intelligence can unlock a new future for infrastructure following the emergence of a recurring theme about how we can use technology and AI to supercharge progress, reduce waste, and improve project delivery.
Consult Australia has also just published its Enabling Digital by Default white paper, which presents a practical, industry-informed roadmap to seamlessly integrate digital practices across the infrastructure sector.
At the 2024 Futurespace workshop, we asked attendees to explore how businesses can integrate digital technologies like AI and automation to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences, and the impact of generative AI on job roles.
Futurespace Courageous Conversations: Future business practices – what do future business models look like?
To secure a place in our industry’s future, it is essential for organisations to embrace and prepare for the changes that are already having an impact. These changes cover many areas from AI to workforce diversity, client relationships, project delivery, and more.
At the 2024 Futurespace workshop, we asked attendees to discuss the business models of the future and share ideas about how to become a future-ready company. Their conversations are summarised below.
Futurespace Courageous Conversations: business responsibility and sustainable business practices
How sustainable is your business? What changes can your organisation make to reduce its environmental impact? Have you explored regenerative business models, set net-zero targets, and considered investing in green technologies?
Adopting sustainable business practices can be challenging, especially for small and mid-sized firms. At the 2024 Futurespace workshop we asked attendees to discuss strategies and frameworks to help businesses reduce their environmental impact while also improving their bottom line. Here we share the thoughts that emerged from those conversations.
Futurespace Courageous Conversations: Future of work and workforce management in a hybrid world
What will your workday look like in one year, let alone ten years? And where will you work? Will your company have an office, or will everyone work remotely?
This is all part of the changing nature of work as we know it. We have fast become accustomed to change since Covid first emerged, but knowing how to navigate it successfully can be a challenge.
At the 2024 Futurespace workshops we asked attendees about the trends shaping the future of work, such as remote work, and the challenges and opportunities of managing a hybrid workforce.
ACE New Zealand Chief Executive Helen Davidson says the sharing by attendees of their personal or businesses’ experiences in this area shows there are multiple solutions to the challenges and opportunities presented, and these can be tailored according to need and the employee experience being curated within the business.
Futurespace Courageous Conversations: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Do you bring your whole self to work? Can you express your thoughts and ideas freely? Do you feel safe, valued and respected? Does your workplace feel inclusive? Would you recommend it as a great place to work to others?
New Zealand’s demographic landscape is constantly changing. We need to ensure our organisations keep up with this change and reflect the communities we serve by being diverse and inclusive if we are to meet the needs of future generations and attract great talent to our businesses.
At Futurespace 2024, attendees discussed strategies for recruiting and retaining diverse talent, and effective steps businesses can take to genuinely lead inclusive work environments.
Futurespace courageous conversations: Leadership in times of change
Good leadership is always challenging, but it is even more critical in times of uncertainty and change when leaders must be daring and lead with courage.
If we are going to galvanise and empower our teams and clients to thrive into the future, we must know how to lead through change, which is the one constant in our lives today. It’s about understanding the hearts and minds of change, the shifting balance between pace and momentum, and the importance of taking people with you.
Futurespace 2024 keynote speaker Kemi Nekvapil spoke of the four skillsets of daring leaders:
Rumbling with vulnerability: taking emotional risks without a guaranteed outcome. We step into the arena and even if we fail, we fail greatly.
Living into our values as leaders: to do this, we must understand our top three or four values. Do the 100 values exercise here to find out yours.
Braving trust: this is about self-trust and trust with others. Braving stands for Boundaries, Reliability, Accountability, Vault (confidentiality), Integrity (choosing what is right instead of what is fast, comfortable, or easy), Non-Judgment, Generosity.
Rising strong: rising above challenges and leading teams through tough moments to build trust and support.
You can also read our interview with Kemi about being courageous here.
At the workshop sessions at Futurespace, we asked attendees for their thoughts on effective leadership during significant changes, such as economic downturns or technological disruptions. ACE Chief Executive Helen Davidson said sharing the diverse insights contributed will help leaders effectively guide their organisations and support employees to build resilience and foster innovation in these changing times.
Futurespace courageous conversations: Navigating economic uncertainty
Are you concerned about your company’s financial future? Do you have a steady workstream lined up for the next six months? Are there areas in which you could save costs? Do you have a long-term plan for managing economic cycles?
We’re coming to the end of another complex year in which we’ve experienced many changes, including a shift from strong economic growth to recession warnings, a new coalition government, and a drop in inflation. These are tough times to navigate and it can be challenging to remain upbeat when you don’t know what lies ahead.
During the workshop sessions at Futurespace 2024, we asked attendees to share strategies and ideas for managing financial challenges such as inflation, boom and bust cycles, and supply chain disruptions, including cost-cutting measures and leveraging technology. ACE Chief Executive Helen Davidson said bringing great minds and diverse experiences together resulted in some valuable discussion, and we’re sharing the insights below to help support you in navigating economic uncertainty, managing financial challenges, and positioning your organisations for long-term success.
The future of architecture, engineering and consultancies: from data as a by-product to a data-driven industry – with Tim Wark
AECOM Global Artificial Intelligence Lead Tim Wark is passionate about helping organisations and individuals become more creative and productive and he thinks the opportunities artificial intelligence (AI) presents are worth getting excited about.
“Organisations will become more relational and strategic and shift the focus to going on the journey with their clients. It gets exciting when you look at it through this lens.”
With over 25 years’ experience in digital innovation in public and private sectors, including digital strategy, product management and commercialisation, you’ll want to be at Tim’s keynote session at Futurespace 2024 this October in Christchurch where he will get you enthused about what the AI disruption ahead means for the sector.
We asked Tim about the impact AI will have on the sector and the opportunities that will result.
How to sell and price like the expert you are – with Blair Enns
“Your first job is to be the expert advisor or practitioner. Your second job is selling that expertise.”
If you’ve ever felt that these two roles conflict, don’t miss Win Without Pitching founder Blair Enns’ inspirational keynote session at Futurespace 2024 this October in Christchurch where he’ll guide you to drop the salesperson persona and sell the way you practice.
Blair’s soon-to-be released third book The Four Conversations: A New Model for Selling Expertise will form the basis of his session at which he aims to change the way attendees think about selling.
“My goal is for the audience to not be intimidated by the second job of selling. I want to set them on this journey of falling in love with it, something most of them would say is impossible. It’s a rethinking of what it means to sell and a framework for how to do this – principles to embody as you use the framework to navigate the sale.”
We asked the Amazon best-selling author of The Win Without Pitching Manifesto how he plans to inspire the audience to make this change and ease the pressure many are experiencing in this challenging market.