Summary By Yury Boshyk

I am pleased to provide a summary of what has become an annual tradition -- the Global Forum community’s sharing of retrospectives on the year gone by and perspectives on the year ahead. This virtual meeting was held on 26 January, 2023 and was not recorded (unlike Global Forum virtual events (VALIDs)) in order to ensure uninhibited discussion. Community members from many parts of the world were asked to reflect in advance on three questions: to share their thoughts and feelings about 2022--“what did I like? what did I learn? —and what do I wish for 2023”?

Although I have tried to distill participant comments as accurately as possible, one cannot adequately convey the sense of community sharing and friendship that everyone experienced during this VALID. Participants said they deeply appreciated and were inspired by being able to sit at this “reflection feast”, and “for the opportunity to listen, share experiences and pass on words of wisdom together”.

As for the “what I liked” in 2022”:
What stood out was the experience of more meaningful family engagement, the celebration of friendships, and in general, the joy of reconnecting. Many were surprised and heartened by their own resilience during critical periods of global and family turmoil, and that this gave them confidence to cope with any further uncertainty and complexity. One person pointed out how grateful he was for surviving COVID. Others were impressed and encouraged by the accelerated focus on sustainability and purpose, both personally, in organizations and within society.

In 2022 what participants “learned” in 2022 also brought forward some common themes:
The war in Europe, with the Russian re-invasion of Ukraine, led some to reflect on whether peace in Europe is an illusion, and to ask how many other illusions do we have? Why haven’t we questioned ourselves more about some of our assumptions? We have not been good at reading weak signals in the geopolitical environment that came to take us in a shocking and surprising way. We have taken some things for granted, like democracy and the steady dehumanization of life. On the contrary, we should not take anything for granted by learning to appreciate more of what we have. We should be more supportive and compassionate because we are all part of a larger ecosystem. Learning how to “stay in the moment”, to listen more attentively and reflect more intentionally were also mentioned as was the oft cited and encouraging vison that we should pay more attention to relationships between people, and that even small connections unify us.

Views on “what I wish for 2023”?
A common thread was the call to action and collaboration—the necessity to act with more courage and determination to commit more personally to help change the world in a positive, respectful, peaceful and sustainable direction—"to continue countering what we didn’t like in 2022” said one participant. Some hoped for leaders in their organizations and the world to better manage growing complexity, and to do so with greater wisdom. Along with this were hopes that companies and organizations would adopt a less hierarchical, less shareholder and a more stakeholder mindset and practice. We should also help younger talents to better understand globalization and to act accordingly to the reality that we are in an interconnected world. It is because of our considerable life experience that we should go forward and carry the message of human potential. To do so will require determination and perseverance because it takes time to create a new world as someone added.

To make sure that these wishes for 2023 come true we must think as a universal family, added someone else. I was reminded by a community member that these words echoed the words of wisdom from another ancient culture, namely from the Sanskrit text of the Maha Upanishad-- “One Earth, One Family, One Future”. This indeed reflected the ethos and spirit of this wonderful Global Forum community’s “reflection feast”.

In conclusion, I would very much like to thank all those who participated, and on your behave to thank the organizers of VALID 21: Chantal, Karl and Michellana for their hard work and contributions, and also to express our gratitude to Michellana for her compassionate moderation of this session.

Much of what we discussed will be further examined in more detail and shared at the 26th Global Forum in Barcelona at IESE Business School’s beautiful campus. We look forward to seeing you there from 18-21 June 2023. For more information about the program, registration and other details please go to:
www.globalforum-actionlearning.com

With best wishes,
Yury

Constraints Lead to Creativity!

On May 14th , during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Global Forum-Action Learning Team organized its first VALID—Virtual Action learning International Discussion-- The aim: to keep provide a forum for our community to continue in its learning and networking mode, and deepening our reflection on “The Future”.

Drew Boyd, our own “Mister Innovation”, launched us into our VALID discussion series with a session entitled “Creative Lessons from A Pandemic”. Listening to Drew is always a pure moment of entertainment, as he embeds profound lessons within a truly memorable story.
What is creativity? It is the sudden collision of two previously unrelated themes. With a few photos, Drew illustrated the definition, notably drawing our attention to the way in which the popular television show “MacGyver” served as an example of accessible creativity.  
Three Key Principles of Creativity:

• The Principle of Constraints. You lack something and replace it with something else more readably available.
• The Principle of Fixedness. You become stuck in thinking about your available resources narrowly, even though many options are available to you. Go beyond the obvious and anticipate that the unusual can happen.
• The Closed World Principle. Prioritize the resources around you; proximity is the solution.

What a moment of self-awareness! Reflecting on a recent personal experience, compensating for the lack of availability of professional painters, I became painter. I painted the forged iron fences around my house. Because every gesture was new to me, I had to create and invent the best process for doing this work. I hesitated. I referred to the DIY manuals. I was out of my comfort zone, but I was so pleased to see the result.

What about you?  How have you successfully used the principles of creativity?

The second Global Forum VALID took place on 21 May 2020. The discussant was Tomas Carlsson, a Global Forum community member, who spoke about lessons learned from transformation and turnaround experiences in critical times, including the pandemic. He is President and CEO of one of the largest construction companies in the Nordic region of Europe, based in Stockholm. Tomas is also a member of the Stockholm’s Chamber of Commerce committee of academics and business leaders tasked to recommend how to “restart” the Swedish economy.

He outlined his key operational approaches in leading transformation. He drives profitability improvement and growth in a sustainable way with a focus on developing organizations fit for people and fit for purpose. On assuming the leadership at NCC in 2018 he took time organize the “right team”, to make sure they achieved sustainable growth well above the average. Today, two-thirds in the top team are “new” to the company.
His second operational objective was “effective “governance”. He wanted an empowered team that would lead and implement the three thousand ongoing projects in NCC. He also set up a special task force on the pandemic, spending time every day discussing and helping them implement recommended actions.
The third pillar was “the right allocation of capital” and fourthly, and certainly not least, “communication”.
There were several questions focusing on these topics as well as how he views the future of his industry and the company’s eco-system. His personal leadership goals and advice to other leaders are to always be looking ahead, be consistent with one’s leadership values and practices, and stay updated and “keeping perspective”. When asked how he does this, he replied that he tries to spend time reflecting, taking a full day once a month to do so. And his “yoga” is cooking to clear his mind and refocus. As a “thirsty learner” he reads a great deal, both non-fiction as well as fiction. Participants very much appreciated Tomas’ discussion and thanked him accordingly.

For more details and to listen to the recording of this VALID please login first please and click here [link].

The reflections from a father and son discussion following VALID 20: Telling a 15-second Story: TikTok, the New Age of Communication & Implications for Business and Society

 What’s a possible outcome from a Global Forum VALID?
Of course, as one of the organizers of the VALID meetings, I always hope they’re seen as a valuable opportunity learn something new and different. But this became especially clear following the December 6th VALID #20: Telling a 15-second Story: TikTok, the New Age of Communication & Implications for Business and Society
What about this VALID was so special?

VALID 20 brought together Valerie Binner CHRO/SVP of HR, OHS, and Real Estate at DeLaval International; and US high school senior, entrepreneur, and social media researcher Christine Sinn to share their perspectives on the social media apps like TikTok and their broad implications for HR and the future of work. Valerie and Christine discussed how, as the popularity of social media platforms continue to rise, they’re profoundly changing our culture, including ushering in new job roles- such as influencer—and influencing our consumption of information, driving our behavior in new ways, impacting our decision-making and reshaping our society.

After the VALID, I discussed what learned and my reflections with my son, Lucas, a third year college student studying International Management in Karlsruhe (Germany). I wanted to further understand the Gen-Z point of view directly from a Gen-Z.
Our conversation expanded to discussing the various platforms, in addition to social media, that Gen-Z are using and he directed me to OpenAI and the tool ChatGPT to see what an AI enabled writing tool would blog on this topic. So, we gave ChatGPT an assignment: Create a blog about using TikTok to create a business impact; and the chances and risks for recruitment.
Here’s the result (with no human editing!)

Using TikTok for recruiting can be an effective way for businesses to reach a younger, digital-native audience and showcase their company culture and values. By creating content that highlights job opportunities and the benefits of working for your company, you can attract top talent and build a diverse and engaged team.
There are a few key ways that businesses can use TikTok to enhance their recruitment efforts:

1. Share company culture: TikTok is a great platform for businesses to show off their company culture and values through short, engaging videos. By showcasing the work environment, team dynamics, and perks of working for your company, you can attract potential candidates who align with your company's values and culture.
2. Create job-specific content: TikTok can also be used to highlight specific job openings and the skills and experience required for those roles. By creating content that speaks directly to potential candidates, you can reach a targeted audience and encourage them to apply.
3. Partner with influencers: Influencers on TikTok have large and engaged followings, and businesses can leverage these individuals to promote job openings and attract top talent. Influencer collaborations can help businesses tap into new audiences and drive traffic to their recruitment pages.

There are also some risks and challenges that businesses should be aware of when using TikTok for recruiting. One potential risk is the platform's reputation for being a place for entertainment and leisure, which could deter some more traditional candidates from considering job opportunities. Additionally, TikTok's algorithms and privacy policies may change, which could impact the reach and effectiveness of recruitment efforts. To mitigate these risks, it's important for businesses to stay up to date on platform updates and have a clear and consistent recruitment strategy in place.
In conclusion, TikTok can be an effective tool for businesses looking to enhance their recruitment efforts and reach a younger, digital-native audience. By sharing company culture, creating job-specific content, and partnering with influencers, businesses can use TikTok to attract top talent and build a diverse and engaged team. However, it's important to be aware of the risks and challenges associated with using the platform for recruiting and to have a clear and consistent strategy in place.

Not completely satisfied, we gave ChatGPT an additional assignment: Create a condensed version.
And now here’s that result:

TikTok is a powerful tool for businesses looking to create a significant impact. By leveraging viral trends, engaging with users, utilizing paid advertising, and collaborating with influencers, businesses can use TikTok to drive tangible results. In terms of recruiting, TikTok can be an effective way for businesses to reach a younger, digital-native audience and showcase their company culture and values. By creating job-specific content and partnering with influencers, businesses can use TikTok to attract top talent and build a diverse and engaged team. However, it's important to be aware of the risks and challenges associated with using the platform for recruiting, such as its reputation for leisure and the potential for algorithm and privacy policy changes. To mitigate these risks, businesses should have a clear and consistent recruitment strategy in place.

We were amazed! Not only by the AI tool and its ability to write this comprehensive summary, but its summary is exactly what we discussed during December’s VALID. My only suggested addition to the ChatGPT would have been: Some sort of protective mechanism should also be agreed upon to guard against negative influences on a potential career that may be caused by thoughtless and politically incorrect contributions of a candidate (KGD).
We would encourage you to watch the video [link]—truly fascinating.

We continued to discuss the VALID, the insights gained, the questions it raised, and the advancement and adoption of technologies like ChatGPT. Will AI enabled tools that produce bot generated writing or deep fake videos allow someone with a subversive or destructive agenda to generate meaningful content in the future, using their computer and not their mind? Will this lead to a belief in content that cannot be fully validated? Who will (accessing skills and resources like time and money) be able to filter artificial expertise and check it for accuracy and completeness? Which interpretation of facts will be allowed? If morality is important, how is it considered when these technologies are developed and adopted? Whose values will be prioritized?
I was grateful for this exchange of ideas with Lucas; the discussion has brought us closer as father and son, as well as helping me to understand the differences, challenges, and alignments in our generational perspectives. I’ve developed a deeper respect for my son and his generation.

Thank you Valerie Binner and Christine Sinn—and Lucas Degenhardt. A wonderful and unexpected VALID outcome.

P.S.: I’m curious how you deal with these innovations and what thoughts it evokes in you. Please share your reflections me at contact.