Today’s leaders are faced with rapidly changing technology like we have never seen before. AI and digital transformation are no longer just left to IT departments or engineers to oversee. Instead, leaders in all industries must have the ability to navigate technological challenges.
Leading through Tech Anxiety
As a leader, it can feel overwhelming to keep up. You are not alone. A study reported in Valtech’s 2024 Leadership Priorities in Tech reveals that a staggering 94% of senior leaders suffer from ‘tech anxiety’ – a sense of unease as they navigate the impact of technology on their organizations. But ignoring these advancements is no longer an option. Leaders must rise above their anxieties to drive change.
The major concerns identified in the study include cybersecurity (24%), AI and machine learning (19%), and sustainability tracking (17%). But what does this really mean for you as a leader? It is time to turn those anxieties into action. By confronting these challenges head-on, you can build the confidence and skills necessary to guide your organization through technological transformation.
Bridging the Technology Gap
Companies are rushing to adopt advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, and automation to maintain their competitive edge. However, this transformation can be challenging for executives whose careers have been rooted in more traditional practices.
Emails and reports have been replaced with Slack notifications and Zoom meetings. Younger employees, having grown up with technology as a constant presence, anticipate faster and more automated workplaces. They are adept with digital tools and expect the same from their leaders, which can lead to a notable disconnect between workforce expectations and leadership capabilities.
Overcoming Technology Paralysis
Technology will continue to evolve quickly. Instead of shying away from it, leaders must learn to embrace technology, regardless of their background. The good news is that you do not need to have specific technical knowledge but rather a mindset open to problem-solving, adaptation, and continuous learning.
If you tend to say things like, “I don’t understand this, and I never will,” you are closing yourself to help and support. If you find yourself avoiding or procrastinating on projects related to tech, that could be a clue that you have some unhelpful thinking patterns.
In our leadership workshops here at JMA, we use a drawing of an iceberg to illustrate just how much lurks below the surface. The same is true for what is happening in our brains! Our thoughts are responsible for developing our moods, which in turn affect your behaviors, which influence your results. The behaviors and results are often what others can see but the thoughts and moods live beneath the surface and are often more unconscious.
If you can identify your feelings, emotions and moods, you can avoid shutting down and instead, engage in a growth mindset.
Related: How to Grow Beyond a Fixed Mindset
Cultivate a Growth Mindset
A person with a growth mindset continually strives for self-improvement, believing that intelligence and abilities can be developed. They embrace innovative ideas, maintain curiosity about the world, and view challenges as opportunities. A leader with this mindset is especially impactful, as they are eager to learn, willing to push their boundaries, and open to experimenting with solutions for potential problems. This optimistic outlook enhances their performance over time.
If you find yourself being more susceptible to a fixed mindset and a propensity toward pessimism, you can loosen that habitual mindset by retraining those thoughts that result in your behavior.
For example, I have been doing more strength classes at the gym lately even though I always preferred running as my go-to form of exercise. There is one move that causes me to cringe when I see it on the trainer’s plan for class.
A Turkish Getup is a full-body exercise which requires you to lift yourself from a lying position on the ground to a standing position and then back down again, all while holding a weight above your head. It is a move that improves strength, stability, and mobility. The more I do this move, the better I get at it. And the better I get at it, the less I dread it.
I had the initial habitual thought that I hated this exercise. But the more I practice it, I realize that blanket statement is no longer correct. What are you telling yourself that you hate, that may no longer be true? Rather than perceiving technology as a threat, embrace it as an opportunity for learning and growth.
Commit to Continuous Learning
Leaders must make a commitment to continuous learning which will help you embrace change and innovation. But it needs to be a solid plan. Schedule time in your calendar for learning each week, even if it is just thirty minutes a day. Everyone learns in separate ways, so perhaps you listen to a podcast or take a class in AI (link to AI class article once live). You could seek out resources that can support your learning journey such as friends and/or family, those younger coworkers, or even an intern from a local university who is knowledgeable in a subject. Book a tech conference for next year to do a deep dive into the subject. Whatever specific skills or technologies you choose to master, make a commitment to yourself, and put some metrics around it so you know if you are hitting your goals.
I recently read an article in Fast Company on the idea of using an engineering mindset for effective business leadership. A lot of the ideas about growth mindset also apply to an engineering mindset. But the example the author provided of continuous learning was truly inspiring. He has a friend who regularly flies to Asia and reads a textbook on a subject he knows nothing about on each trip. During the two 12-to-14-hour flights, he would finish the textbook. Imagine what we could learn if we all applied that discipline instead of watching movie marathons on flights!
Never Stop Becoming
Continuous learning is part of “becoming” a better leader. In this quote from her memoir Becoming, Michelle Obama expresses that “becoming” is not a fixed destination or a specific goal to be achieved, but an ongoing process of growth and self-improvement.
“For me, becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn’t end.” ~Michelle Obama, Becoming
Obama emphasizes the importance of always striving to evolve into a better version of yourself. The idea is that the journey of personal development is never truly complete; it is about maintaining forward motion and embracing the ongoing pursuit of improvement.
So, the next time you find yourself having to do a task that you do not want to do, whether it is listening to a tech podcast, doing your taxes, or practicing a Turkish Getup, ask yourself:
- What is your attitude?
- What is your approach?
If you have a different mindset or a different approach, you can change how you are “becoming” during the journey.
Technology has shifted from being a luxury to a fundamental. Leaders can choose to let fear and uncertainty prevent progress, or they can welcome the chance to adapt, evolve and excel in today’s digital world. By fostering a growth mindset, prioritizing ongoing learning and seeking outside expertise, managers can overcome the challenges of tech overwhelm and become the confident, tech-savvy leaders today’s organizations require.
A good place to start cultivating that growth mindset is with JMA’s Leadership Workshops which accelerate your awareness, mental fitness, and performance.