Expert: Digital leaders are made, not born
Published on: Saturday, March 23, 2019
By: David Thien
Kota Kinabalu: “Digital leaders are made and not born” is the take-home inspiration message for participants at the “Leading Digital Transformation” training event organised by Kolej Teknikal Yayasan Sabah and Gem Consultancy Sdn Bhd.The two-day event at the University College Sabah Foundation Building Hall on Monday and Tuesday endeavoured to transform Sabah’s digital economy with valuable insights by Digital transformative specialist Tom Bryant.
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He told his digital leadership mentees to be efficient and effective agents of change in Sabah and beyond, connected with the digital world where geography is not a hindrance to their mobility to work and influence.
Bryant briefly explained on reverse mentoring – whereby younger digital natives are better placed to teach older generations who are willing to learn and adapt on digital skills in our society.
Paraphrasing Confucius’ wisdom, he said, “The key to success is often the ability to adapt.”
“The Digital Age is built on collaboration and connection. Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other. The most dangerous language phase is ‘We have always done it this way’.”
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Quoting Albert Einstein, he said, “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”
Bryant strongly emphasised on the importance of emotional intelligence for the success of digital leaders. “Keep calm and think digital.”
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Chief Executive Officer of KKYS Sdn Bhd, Terence S.K. Chee, said Kolej Teknikal Yayasan Sabah will organise more relevant discourses in future by experts to benefit Sabah’s progress with the training of more innovative disruptors or change agents with digital dexterity or knowledge of emerging technologies and use of digital tools.
The development of the digital economy will help Sabah to be less dependent on depleting finite natural resources like oil and gas. Bryant has a very protective sense of Sabah’s eco-tourism jewels as part of his sustainable and responsible tourism, which could be threatened by mass tourism and other man-made perils.
The focus is to produce talents beyond the mind-set confines of the 20th century, who are highly productive, effective communicators, inventive thinkers, and masters of technology, able to meet expectations of ‘what is in it for me?’ from customers or citizens.
Bryant said it was difficult to motivate people who did not want to change. Instead, people have to motivate themselves. Sabah’s digital leaders will have to work hard to change work culture, behaviour, and mindset.
He said it was important to create the right environment and forge a curiosity attitude to learn, investigate and create positive change including to up-skill their digital talents.
Tom Bryant said it is vital for the success of digital transformation to stem from a clear digital vision and a strong sense of curiosity from leaders by example and all stakeholders to keep up with the fast pace of global development.
Digital vision clarifies the emotional intelligent human resource, process and technology requirements to institute 21st century learning for organisations to individuals with fail fast learning processes to innovate and adapt for collaboration in the face of fast changing technology and horizon scanning for new trends.
The top challenges facing digital transformation are changing company or work culture, efficient thinking beyond a ‘campaign mentality’ in digital strategy efforts, effective cooperation between departments and team silos, resources (people, technologies, expertise) and budget allocation, and understanding behaviour or impact of new connected customers.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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