Training Industry Magazine - March/April 2020 - 53

STELLA LEE, PH.D.

WHAT'S NEXT
IN TECH

LEADING IN THE AGE OF
TECHNOLOGICAL DISRUPTION

Advances in technologies such as
cloud computing, blockchain, artificial
intelligence (AI) and robotic process
automation are having a profound effect
on our lives and reshaping our business
environments. As technologies disrupt
at an ever-increasing rate, leaders
across organizations need to embrace
the changing nature of work, anticipate
shifts in business needs and leverage
technologies to augment leadership.
Amid this change, there is an opportunity
for learning leaders to demonstrate the
appropriate use of technologies and
focus on strategic transformation. Below
are some ideas to get started:
Focus on human first, technology
second. Behind every technology is
a person. Decisions on technology
implementation, usage, data collection,
analysis and intervention must be based
on how technology can serve people - not
the other way around. Learning leaders
need to look beyond their responsibility
to provide training. When implementing a
new learning analytics tool, for example,
we must mitigate bias, as well as respect
and take privacy and data protection
into consideration. It is critical to have
the right technology management and
data governance processes in place.
While we rely on IT departments to make
appropriate recommendations, it will
serve us well to be well informed on data
management and ethics.
Learn to lead online. As we bring global
talent together and form remote teams,
leaders need to reconfigure the way we
lead. One study predicts that 73% of all

teams will have remote employees by
2028. Leading a strong remote team
presents many challenges for leaders,
especially those who are accustomed to
face-to-face interactions. Learn to adapt
to new and different technical solutions
based on your team's size, communication
preferences and the organization's culture.
Understand the various communication
options available and use them accordingly.
Synchronous communications - such as
live chats, voice over IP calls and video
calls - allow real-time interaction and build
a sense of belonging. While asynchronous
communications - such as emails,
discussion forums, messaging software
and collaboration platforms -are helpful
in discussing more complex or in-depth
topics. People can respond in detail
to a question or topic that they might
have answered incompletely in a realtime conversation.

BE PREPARED
TO UNLEARN
AND RELEARN
CONTINUOUSLY.
Understand the "why." Technology must
be used for a practical purpose, not for the
sake of using technology. The benefits of
integrating technology into learning and
development are well-supported, ranging
from enhanced motivation to increased
accessibility. However, there are times
that technology is not relevant to or
supportive of workplace learning. Don't
jump to video-based learning without
confirming that employees have the
means to play back the videos or critically
examining if video is the best format

for the subject matter. Don't fall into the
trap of the Shiny New Tech Syndrome.
Dazzling technology doesn't necessarily
promise more effective learning or align
with larger business goals. Focus less on
the details of the technology and more
on its impact and use.
Make data-driven, evidence-based
decisions. Technologies, such as big
data analytics and AI, can be immensely
powerful. Leverage these tools to make
evidence-based decisions supported by
hard data rather than making decisions
that are intuitive or based on observation
alone. Recognize that multiple data types
across technology platforms can inform
decisions, and find out what support is
available to accurately interpret the data.
However, remember that simply having
data does not mean that it will be used
appropriately or lead to improvements in
learning. Attention must be focused on
analyzing data and providing interventions
based on its findings.
There are many ways for learning
leaders to thrive in this age of
technological disruption. Changes
in technology require changes in
leadership strategies and styles. Start
with an agile mindset, and be prepared
to unlearn and relearn continuously.
Dr. Stella Lee has over 20 years of
experience in consulting, planning,
designing, implementing, and measuring
learning initiatives. Today, her focus is on
large-scale learning projects including
LMS evaluation and implementation,
learning analytics, and artificial intelligent
applications in learning. Email Stella.

T R A I N I N G I N DUSTR Y MAGAZ INE - MODERN LEADERS 2020 I WWW. T RAI NINGINDU S T RY . C OM/ MAGAZ I NE

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https://www.trainingindustry.com/glossary/artificial-intelligence/ https://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/where-higher-education-and-technology-intersect-an-interview-with-kevin-guidry/ https://www.trainingindustry.com/glossary/artificial-intelligence/ https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/10949-technology-changing-continuing-education.html https://www.remote.co/10-stats-about-remote-work/ https://www.trainingindustry.com/magazine

Training Industry Magazine - March/April 2020

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