Future Proofing Careers for Middle & Senior Managers in the age of T20

It is a no brainer. We are probably in the midst of the most happening of all the decades in the history of mankind. The half life of  knowledge and skills is shrinking!

Technology, Globalisation, and Mother Nature (climate change & biodiversity) are all accelerating at once. And transforming the key realms of the workplace, politics, geopolitics, community and ethics.

Business models are becoming extinct faster. The mortality rates of organisations is suspect. 

https://www.netobjex.com/how-humans-are-empowering-digital-transformation-in-industry-4-0/

If the Industrial Revolutions 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 was about empowering corporations, and scalable efficiencies ( doing things right), the IR ver 4.0 is all about empowering people, and scalable adaptability ( doing the right things).

      In this new new world, one would be practical enough to change our mindset. It is best we sensitize ourselves that no job is forever. Employability equals Options. One must manage one's own career as a business.

In the past, experience bestowed a lot of respect to one. In today's world where we are likely to work with folks of  different generations - including GenX and  young millennial, there is a wonderful irreverence!

How do we as middle and senior managers future proof ones career?

Don’t let what you cannot do- interfere with what you can! Increasingly, it is the ability to dive deep into one's inventory of skills, and pick out what can be transplanted, in the pattern of things, and see how we can transplant the best practice to create a better impact.

Do we learn from the film industry on how they have been putting together team of experts, with complementary skills, extract the best of them, within the constraints and limitations of time and material, and deliver projects? The #futureofwork is about leveraging those in the gig economy, and entice them to bring out their best talents in the shortest of engagements!

Learn. Unlearn. Relearn. And from all those who we interact with.

Lets not hesitate to go out of our comfort zone, and learn new skills. And keep pivoting!

A lot of tasks are bound to be automated, and some even outsourced. It is increasingly those quintessential human traits that will become our greatest assets. Curiosity. Creativity.Caring.Changing. 

Networking. It is not about whom you know- but about who knows you too. It helps to extend our contact sphere to be able to educate others about -how we can potentially add value in the future.

In this interconnected world, only if one is google -able, does one exist :)! So, it yes, make every effort to leave enough social media footprints online, to be found by those looking for pain points to solve. Think in terms of key words...perhaps?

One has to constantly reinvent to stay relevant and survive.  As consumers, we are now accustomed to using so many new habits. We have taken to google, facebook, whatsapp, uber, swiggy, airbnb, dunzo...and improve our lives. Do we in our professional avataar, be as discerning?

Get inspired by sportsmen. Everyone fails more often than one wins. It is what you do when you fail, that matters! Increasingly we accept that the cricketers who play the T20 are perhaps the ones different from those who revel in Test Cricket. There is a place for everyone-it is just that we need to be conscious...

Not taking risks is perhaps the worst risk we take?

Gaming is no Child's Play!?

Last Friday, when I stepped in to the Novotel hotel to attend the IGDC 2019 -in an attempt to get a ringside view of the Indian Gaming industry, I kind of lost my way!

There were a bunch of Class VIII students -who were pitching their games, after having learnt a few new design applications! The energy was palpable as they could legitimately spend time playing more games, and interact with gamers who producted them!!

The place seemed to be teeming with hundreds of youngsters-in early twenties,in what seemed like a hitech kumbhamela of sorts. Gadgets galore across all across, with huge stages, people keyed in-with headsets in front of monitors,it seemed an ecosystem of digital content creators, brands and agencies!

The 11th edition of the India Game Developer Conference, held at Hyderabad, was  held as part of India Joy 2019, the premier gaming, media, and entertainment event. With several talks, workshops, panel discussions, and esports tournaments, the conference showcased how India is becoming a game hungry nation.

It was interesing to note, apart from the usual tracks, business, design, art, technology,      applied games, I was impressed there was one that had 'career' as a focus. A great plaform for young professionals/aspirants to get a feel of what it takes to be successful in the Gaming industry. Loved the thoughts/deliberations that the different speakers shared- including what is expected of freshers- how do they design their portfolios etc! 

I must admit it was a little mindboggling at first -especially since I was conscious that I really didnt have any experience in playing mobile games -nor was I aware of the several genres associated ( at best, wondered how the millenials got so carried away by the hours of thumbing!). So it was enlightening to know, amongst other stuff, the kind of details a 2D artist gets into, a 'character sketch artist' actually spends hours of learning anatomy- to be able to come up with realistic figures!

While I have grappled to understand how to use instagram,or snapchat, and wondered at the pace of it I have had a fleeting affair with a couple of videos on tik tok. I realise it was increasingly necessary for me to come with terms -and accept that I could not longer be tech-averse- and atleast appreciate the changes as it happen! The key note speeches -sensitised me on how -in a period of less than 18 months, India has seen millions of people getting to 'PUBG with each other', and how there was even a Premier League (MPL) that had captured the attention of all the 'gig economy' adopting developers -who could now produce games for more millions..playing not just pool or card games, but also quizzes, cricket!

Hey presto..it stuck me -we were in the midst of increased bandwidth, 4G, 5G..and folks spending more time on mobile phones -and less and less on web. This is indeed the #futureofwork!                                                                                                                                       

Perhaps it was indeed the #signoftimes-that the key note speaker on the second day- in a Gaming conference - was a pioneer from the Animation industry!! Rajeev Chilaka of Green Gold Animation sharing his story of gowth of Chhota Bheem-the company had gone beyond making animation films, (including providing services to other labels for sustaining their revenues), licensing, merchandising, reail, TV films, Apps and Games. And banking on the new media -OTT- they even launched a global extension- Little Mighty Bheem for cover an international market of over 100 countries, riding on the network on Netflix!

And would you believe it? 

Telangana Government has actually had its act together to getting investment to Hyderabad by providing exclusive infrastructure -providing plug n play office spaces in a building called IMAGE -an acronym for Innovation in Animation, Multimedia, Gaming and Entertainment! And yes, they are also on the verge of announcing a new tie up with foreign Universities to usher in the best and latest curriculums required to keep in sync with the changing world!

This is indeed a new new world. It is said that there are almost 300 game development companies in India..which is likely to be a 12000 Crores industry in 3 years -and over 2 crore gamers in India.

And yes, the future looks promising..as there is a yet another unconventional career opportunity for professionals..opening up!

And it is indeed ironical that one feels the gaming industry starves for talent!!? Time to change the way we all look for talent?