Robert Tucker is a renowned global futurist and innovation keynote speaker who is recognized as a pioneer and thought leader in the field of innovation. Known for his in-depth customization, Robert provides today’s leaders with practical strategies, cutting-edge insights, and inspiration to take action after each seminar. His interactive presentations lead audiences on a guided tour inside the world’s most creative companies. Through stories and examples, Robert shows leaders how to tap the mindset, skillset, and toolset of innovation to embrace change, discover opportunity, and drive growth.
We are shining our speaker spotlight on Robert, and here’s what he said:
Why is innovation so important in today’s society?
ROBERT: Almost half the jobs people currently have, have the potential to be automated by technology that already exists. This does not include technology that will exist tomorrow! As a futurist and innovation speaker, I help people take a step back and look at why personal innovation is so important in today’s society. The way we navigate our careers, add value, and create results is changing before our eyes. With all the automation and robots, our surveys show people are concerned about what kind of work will be left for humans to do. As long as you approach your career with what I call the “opportunity mindset,” you’re going to be okay. Twenty or thirty years ago, the economy was such that you almost had to have a plan to fail because it was relatively easy to succeed. Today, however, a plan for the future is essential.
How exactly do you do that?
ROBERT: Success today, and in the years ahead, will require mastery of different skillsets, mindsets, and toolsets. If you are able to bring diverse people together as a team and get them to collaborate and tap into their innate potential, that turns out to be really important. If you have developed deep empathy for customer/users of your work product, that too, is a much-desired skillset. Innovation in an economy that is evolving is about much more than inventing, it’s about figuring out how and where you can add unique value. It’s about how fast you can “unlearn” and let go of thinking and working, and master new competencies. It’s about how you leverage technology and engage others at a deeper, more humanistic and trusting level. I am a firm believer that whatever your current position, profession, or industry, improving your ability to innovate— to problem solve, experiment, collaborate, and drive growth – will give you an edge that can never be taken away.
What is one innovation strategy or tip any business could implement today?
ROBERT: You have to regularly ask people to innovate. Make it everybody’s business! Everybody is incredibly busy doing their jobs, such that finding the time to think creatively is a challenge. Unless we invite this sort of participation, there’s a common perception out there that innovation is “not in my job description.” And, with all the emphasis on technological innovation, people in non-technical roles can sometimes feel that innovating is something only the “I.T. people” get to do. A big part of my work is showing people in whatever realm they are in that they, too, can be innovative.
To bring Robert Tucker to your next meeting or event, contact Michelle Joyce or visit www.MichelleJoyceSpeakers.com. Tune in every Friday for additional featured speakers!
