Thank you for pausing to read this edition. I realize we are rapidly approaching the Memorial Day holiday weekend here in the USA.
This proves that you believe in lifelong learning—even when you’re about to shift attention to barbeque, beaches and bocce!
I’ll keep this issue succinct.
Here’s what’s on my mind lately. It frames my keynotes, client advisory work, and livestreams these days.
It’s our job as leaders to present cost-effective and strategic alternatives to traditional roles and responsibilities–including marketing.
Why is this timely for you? Two reasons:
- Every board executive and CEO I’m coaching has asked their CMOs and finance teams to look for ways to become more efficient.
- Generative AI is rapidly streamlining how we strategize, market, sell, and connect with customers. LinkedIn is teeming with prompt engineering tips, insider scoops on the AI market share race to the top and viable marketing use cases.
Here’s the challenge. Thanks to AI, information and scenario planning exercises have become commoditized, and knowledge (skills) are career table stakes. The functions we once held dear—and shaped our job requirements—can be streamlined. Others can be fully automated (thanks to snippets and other great tools).
On the other hand, wisdom, the pinnacle of human understanding, remains in short supply. Wisdom evolves from the marriage of knowledge and experience—and helps us make choices in an ever-changing, unpredictable world. Wisdom is also foundational to storytelling, relationship building, coaching, influencing, and guiding others. Chatbots fall terribly short here.
© 2024, Lisa Nirell. All rights reserved. lisanirell.com. Inspired by Maria Popova.
In the future, customers, boards and CEOs will need more wisdom than information. And I’m concerned that we are not preparing our teams for this societal shift.
In the coming months, you will hear more stories about our wisdom workers – our clients – and the strategies they are successfully using to cultivate this essential quality.
Here are three wisdom building resources and ways we can work together:
- I’m hosting a private C-level innovation cohort at MEA Santa Fe for “Midlife Innovators” October 17-20. Leaders from organizations such as AARP, Amazon, Belmont University, Blackbaud, and CoStar Group have confirmed. Our 3-night ranch retreat at MEA will fuel team and personal reinvention. Rooms expire in June. Learn more and apply here.
- Need some wisdom to transform your growth engine? Listen to our full time versus fractional CMO debate. My 84 th livestream and podcast featuring Michael Taylor and Scott Kabat just dropped. HERE is the livestream link. Grab the podcast here. (38 minutes)
- I just led 2 keynotes on “The On Ramp to Effective Leadership” to 538 professionals across the globe. My session outlines the 7 areas every leader needs to pursue in order to remain strategic and relevant. Click here for the handout, or contact me to speak at your next offsite.
In this new era, wisdom will separate the bots from the bold-hearted. How will you cultivate wisdom in the year ahead?
Until next time, please join me in honoring the fallen who have died in service to our country. Make this a mindful Memorial Day.
© 2024, Lisa Nirell. All rights reserved. lisanirell.com