What leaders get most wrong about disruption with Charlene Li
Aug 20, 2020
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Charlene Li, an expert on disruption and transformation in business, dives deep into the misconceptions surrounding disruption and growth. She believes that growth, not disruption, should be the main focus for leaders. The discussion highlights how significant shifts in industries, particularly during the pandemic, force organizations to reassess strategies. Li also shares valuable insights on the contrasting paths of Myspace and Facebook, emphasizing the need for adaptability. Additionally, she underscores the importance of compassionate leadership to navigate these turbulent times.
Leaders must redefine disruption as a challenge to organizational growth rather than a mere technological phenomenon threatening their business model.
Businesses should pivot toward evolving consumer demands and cultivate a purposeful culture to transform disruption into a competitive advantage.
Deep dives
The Impact of Internet Disruption on Traditional Media
The discussion highlights how traditional media, particularly newspapers, struggled to adapt to the rise of the internet during the dot-com boom. Key players recognized the threat posed by online platforms, such as eBay, which began to encroach on their classified advertising revenue. Despite being aware of these disruptive forces, many organizations hesitated to commit fully to digital initiatives, often viewing them as backup options rather than the future of their business. This ambivalence hampered their ability to transition effectively, as they found it challenging to prioritize new technologies and strategies over their existing, profitable models.
Rethinking Disruption Beyond Technology
The conversation shifts to redefine disruption not merely as a technological phenomenon but as an inherent challenge to organizational growth. It is asserted that growth itself can be disruptive, often leading to discomfort within established companies that are not structured for significant change. Many businesses mistakenly established separate innovation divisions that failed to drive meaningful growth, thus isolating innovative efforts from the core business. By focusing only on current customers and technologies, these companies often overlooked future needs and opportunities, ultimately stifling their potential for true disruption.
Embracing Change for Future Success
The podcast emphasizes the necessity of acknowledging and adapting to changing customer needs brought about by external disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses are encouraged to actively engage with and pivot toward evolving consumer demands rather than remain static. In contrast, those resistant to change may miss opportunities while others thrive by embracing innovative models, like dark kitchens in the food industry. The central message is that organizations need to cultivate a sense of purpose and mobilize their employees to not just survive disruption, but to transform it into a competitive advantage.
We talk about disruption all the time, but are we really ready to make the profound changes that come with true transformation? Many companies set disruption as their goal, and even believe that by shaking up their market, they will achieve high levels of growth. For Charlene Li, leaders have all it all backwards. Disruption doesn't create growth; instead, growth creates disruption.
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