Riding the Intelligence Tsunami: A Fosbury Flop for Your Workplace

Creative individuals in your organizations operating with clear standards and accountability can use advancing AI technology to innovate and supercharge productivity. 

Today’s guest post is by John Warner, author of The Intelligence Tsunami: Get Off the Beach, Ride the Wave, or Get Washed Away.

As early as the 1906 Olympics, high jumpers knew that the “flop” technique allowed them to jump higher with their backs arched and their heads first over the bar. The flop allows the jumper’s center of gravity to stay under the bar. In the early landing pits with sand or piles of thin matting, jumpers had to land carefully to avoid breaking their necks. No jumpers used the technique in competition.

Until Dick Fosbury did. Realizing that the landing pits at the Mexico City Olympic Games had deep foam mats, on Sunday, October 20, 1968, the 21-year-old Oregon State University student won the gold medal by flopping backward over the bar. Competitive high jumping changed forever. To this day, his technique is known as the Fosbury Flop.

Good governance is essential for individuals to excel at the highest level. Track and field organizations create rules and standards for high jump competitions. Athletes like Dick train to these standards their entire lives. Athletes benefit from coaches who know the rules and physical infrastructure built to meet the standards. Officials enforce the rules to ensure the competitions are fair.

Dick excelled in part through hard, dedicated practice, but outstanding execution alone wasn’t enough. Dick creatively realized that a change in technology allowed him to innovate and create a competitive advantage. Today, almost all elite high jumpers use the Fosbury Flop. Those that don’t aren’t competitive at the highest level.

The Intelligence Tsunami results from the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Many employees are understandably anxious from reading frequent announcements of job losses caused by AI. But here’s the good news. With good governance that fosters innovation, The Intelligence Tsunami is an opportunity, not a threat.

Just as dedicated practice is essential for elite athletes, operational excellence is essential for leading organizations. But great execution alone is not enough to thrive during dramatic change. Create a culture of continuous learning and adaptability that empowers the “Dick Fosburys” in your organization to challenge the status quo and embrace new possibilities.

Empower Every Employee. Every employee, at all levels, should feel encouraged to innovate. Create safe spaces where employees feel comfortable sharing ideas, even if they seem unconventional – especially if they seem unconventional. Great ideas, like the Fosbury Flop, are obvious only in retrospect.

Build an Adaptable Workforce. Riding The Intelligence Tsunami is not solely about adopting new technologies but is fundamentally about cultivating an adaptable, creative workforce ready for the future. Focus on building a workforce that thrives in a changing landscape. This means continuous learning, not just about AI, but also about creativity and critical thinking. Encourage employees to develop new skills and step outside their comfort zones.

Make AI a Partner, not a Replacement. Set a vision where AI and machine learning are seen as tools to augment human capabilities, not replace them. AI can handle tedious, repetitive tasks, freeing up humans to focus on more complex, creative work. Rapid advancements in AI technologies represent a new kind of “deep foam matting” for your organization.

Provide Resources and Trust. Define what’s essential for your organization to excel. Provide the resources your team needs, from technology to training, and make sure they understand how they are accountable. Then let go and trust your team to excel. Create an environment where calculated risks and experimentation are encouraged. Your trust will empower employees to take ownership of their work and find innovative solutions.

Celebrate Success. The most iconic moments in the Olympic Games are the medal ceremonies. Celebrate your champions who excel at the highest level, taking your organization to new heights. Recognize and celebrate not just groundbreaking inventions but also the everyday problem-solving that keeps the organization progressing.

The Intelligence Tsunami is washing ashore with a vengeance. Like Dick Fosbury, creative individuals in your organizations operating with clear standards and accountability can use advancing AI technology to innovate and supercharge productivity. By unlocking creativity, embracing new technologies, and empowering your workforce, you can achieve gold-medal results.

John Warner is the author of The Intelligence Tsunami: Get Off the Beach, Ride the Wave, or Get Washed Away, a #1 New Release on Amazon. John has a lifetime of experience as a serial innovator, riding waves from scrappy startups of companies, academic centers, not-for-profits, and a government agency to the towering halls of the New York Stock Exchange. See more at his LinkedIn profile.

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