September 29, 2017
IT'S no secret that keeping up with advances in technology is critical to surviving and thriving in the business world. There are numerous examples of top companies that suffered by resisting change (Kodak, Blockbuster and Borders are recent examples).
The lessons learned from these failures can be applied to individual career potential: To move up the ladder, you must embrace new technology. If you don't, there are plenty of other individuals who will be waiting to sweep past you.
You know many of the tools you should be using -- LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube -- and you need to keep abreast of new advances in technologies that are specific to your particular industry.
What can you do if you're not a born "techie"? Here are some ways to increase your savvy:
-- Get over your denial. Avoid jumping to the conclusion that a new technology will not affect you. Don't get hung up on the way you've always done things.
-- Think ahead. Don't rely on a history of success to save you in the future. Your job history has led to your present position, but if the nature of your business changes because of a new technology, that history may have little bearing on your future success. Have a vivid imagination and think about all kinds of different possibilities for the way technology could impact your position and your industry.
-- Embrace change. It is always frightening to change, especially if you have been successful in what you are doing. But with the waves of technology sweeping across different industries, change is becoming the norm.
