Top 10 Trends and Takeaways from SXSW 2018
- 1. TOP TREND: KEY TREND: TOP 10 TRENDS & TAKEAWAYS BREAKTHROUGH GLOBAL
- 2. Summary: Three days into SXSW the organisers tweeted that the year’s theme was “Globally Connected”. However, the call out that “we’re all in this together”, was more of a rallying cry than a salute. A purposeful reaction against the polarising geo-political climate, and a reminder that there is no “Us vs Them”. The only way we can take advantage of future opportunities is if we work together. Breakthrough Relevance: We believe that to grow a business, we must grow it’s people. Companies that invest in their people before investing in the latest “tech trends” will be the ones who create the most opportunities. GLOBALLY CONNECTED “Politics is the great divider and purpose is the uniter. We need to move away from “us vs them”. We can find common ground on higher ground”. - Roy Spence © The Breakthrough Group 2018
- 3. ROBOTS ARE TAKING OUR JOBS “Planes don’t fly by replicating birds. Replicating human intelligence is not how artificial intelligence works.” - Daphne Koller © The Breakthrough Group 2018 Summary: The use of artificial Intelligence will develop exponentially over the next few years and will become more and more integrated in our lives. Many jobs will be automated or subsidised by AI. But... why are we teaching humans to code and computers to learn? We need to lean into what makes us “human”, reframe how we see technology, and utilise artificial intelligence to release us to use our intelligence to innovate in ways we never could have imagined. Breakthrough Relevance: More than ever companies will need support to make the most of the people and resources they have to drive innovation and growth. “Mark my words AI is more dangerous than neuks” - Elon Musk
- 4. RELATIONSHIPS & CONNECTION “The quality of your relationships is what determines the quality of your life. Relationships are our stories, write well and edit often” - Esther Perel “When we listen deeply to other people, we reach into their humanity” - Esther Perel Summary: No matter what changes the future of technology will bring, our businesses, culture and society as a whole is built on people. People need connection to thrive. Real connection requires real presence. It means putting your devices away and really listening. We know all this innately but we are still guilty of doing it. We’re spreading ourselves too thin. Breakthrough Relevance: Our Programmes are immersive experiences which strengthen the relationships and connection between teams and individuals. © The Breakthrough Group 2018
- 5. VULNERABILITY IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS “Vulnerability is the first thing I look for in you and the last thing I want you to see in me”. - Brene Brown Examples of vulnerability at work: ● Requesting feedback when you don’t have to, ● Asking for help, ● Taking responsibility, ● Sharing insights and reflecting together as a team Summary: We need trust to be vulnerable, and vulnerability to develop trust. In a business, individuals need to feel like they can be open with their ideas; to be innovative, they need to trust in a culture that sees the opportunity in failure. Vulnerability allows people to be authentically themselves and share their ideas more freely, knowing that they won’t be judged. When vulnerability is not welcome in the workplace - ideas, growth and innovation all suffer. Breakthrough Relevance: Our Tools and Programmes create cultures which encourage vulnerability, innovation and growth. We see failure as feedback. We create common ways of working and a shared language which inspires reflection, sharing and learning. This in turns leads to an improved ability to take risks, attract talent, and engage employees. © The Breakthrough Group 2018
- 6. Summary: Captivating people is no longer a passive experience. People look to brands to reflect and reinforce the values that they have in themselves and culture. ● Brands have the power to impact and change culture, especially when there’s a need and a vacancy. ● People pay attention to culture, not advertising. ● 60% of millennials identity as belief driven buyers. They care about and value transparency. They want to change the world very optimistically; they want to participate and engage with brands. Breakthrough Relevance: We can support our clients to align their business strategy to their Purpose. It’s important for engagement for people to see where they’re going and why, and how their work relates to the broader strategy of the business. PURPOSE DRIVEN, VALUES LED “Being purpose driven is having real focus on the end user. By re- framing your brand to something that’s more meaningful It elevates the brand to a more emotional space with more relevance to people.” - A J Hassan © The Breakthrough Group 2018
- 7. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION The metoo movement is causing a reckoning. I think a bunch of guys are waiting for this to be over. It’s never going to be over.” - Nina Shaw Founder of the Time’s Up movement Summary: The benefits of having a diverse workplace have been proven categorically. Finally companies are starting to realize that diversity and inclusion is an integral part of a market acceleration and globalization strategy. Now the next stage is to create inclusive cultures that support this diversity. There is an acceleration of tying diversity and inclusion to the bottom line and companies are looking to tie the financial goals of a company with Chief Diversity Officer business goals. Breakthrough Relevance: If there is to be a sustainable shift in an organisation’s culture, everyone in the business must demand change and embody inclusion. We show leaders how they can lead with authenticity and make links between supporting diverse thinking and business growth. © The Breakthrough Group 2018
- 8. SCREENS ARE DEAD The internet used to be an escape from reality, now reality is an escape from the internet. In the not so distant future, digital will no longer be the focus, it will become an invisible enabler of physical experiences. Summary: When focusing on the technology, we run the risk of missing the bigger picture, and focusing too heavily on the process. Futurist and science fiction writer Bruce Sterling used his closing speech to remind SXSW that we need art and philosophy to function as a working society. More than ever we are searching for escape, play and real connection. Children learn through play, and so too do adults. We need to step back from trying to find a way to “fix” the future and engage with what we have now… and simply play about with it a bit. Creativity is essential to innovation. We need to create for the joy of invention, not for the next “solution”. Breakthrough Relevance: Our experiential Programmes inspire clients to focus on the Outcome not the process. © The Breakthrough Group 2018
- 9. Summary: We’re in a loneliness epidemic, and are in the midst of an employee engagement crisis. According to a Gallup study, only 13% of employees are engaged - meaning they are involved in, enthusiastic about and committed to their work and workplace. The quality of employees’ interpersonal relationships has been shown to have a significant impact on how they perceive and connect with their organisation. The level of human social engagement therefore determines whether a person is engaged with the business’s outcomes. With the speed of technological advances, individuals are being left behind, and the importance of the people driving the need for innovation is lost. Breakthrough Relevance: To tackle loneliness we need to encourage real connection. THE LONELINESS EPIDEMIC “If the opposite of addiction is connection, then the opposite of loneliness is community” - Liz Elam © The Breakthrough Group 2018
- 10. REGULATION VS INNOVATION “Our biggest shared challenge is ensuring the advancing of technology is for the benefit of society” - Sadiq Khan Summary: The failure of policy makers to adapt to the speed of technological innovation has created a disconnect and could lead to missed opportunities and over-regulation across all sectors. The idea that some people are being “left behind” is creating fear, uncertainty and knee jerk reactions to protect the “old way of doing things”. When people feel left behind, the door is left open for others to come in and take advantage. Breakthrough Relevance: We can help companies develop the mindset needed to see challenges as opportunities and stay ahead of the constant development of new technologies. A Digital Mindset ● Is about putting people at the centre of everything you do. ● Uses technology to achieve an Outcome. ● Puts the customer’s experience first. ● Views challenges and failures as an opportunity for learning. © The Breakthrough Group 2018