A recent McKinsey article suggests that over the past twenty years, academic insight and real-world experience have demonstrated that when companies channel their competitive and collaborative instincts, embrace diversity, and recognize the needs and emotions of their team members, they can reap dividends in performance.

According to the Harvard Business Review, change management has been a recognized discipline for over half a century. Yet, despite the unbelievable investment companies have made in tools and training, most studies show that 60-70% of organizational change projects fail —and this failure rate has gone unchanged for decades. The saying failure is not an option as you can see is not working here.

If you’re a regular reader, you know that I like to help empower the commercial real estate community with all things technology —I love to share what I’m learning, what I’m using, and what I’m hearing. Almost to a fault.

The unbelievable speed at which technology is infiltrating our daily lives has created an era where customers are empowered. They can browse and purchase what they want, where they want, whenever they want. We are so much more demanding now that we have a voice that can travel through social media and make an impact on product and services.  In fact, today’s consumers expect companies to quickly innovate in accordance with their changing preferences, as a new study by Salesforce suggests that 70% of consumers agree that technology has made it easier than ever to take their business elsewhere.

A recent TechCrunch article suggests that if businesses don’t pay attention to the growing AI trend, they’ll find themselves playing catch-up for years. I couldn’t agree more! We are at a “tipping point” —as Malcolm Gladwell wrote so elegantly in his bestselling book. A timely and great read for where we stand in the evolution of our industry.

In 2006, Google hired Stacy Sullivan as Chief Culture Officer, and the C-Suite was changed forever. Okay … that might be a bit dramatic, but bringing someone into the C-Suite whose sole duty was to keep a watchful eye on culture was revolutionary at the time. They were disruptors. They knew that not only was technology changing at the speed of light, but people were to.

Doesn’t it seem like we’re always talking about Millennials? If you had any doubt —we should be. They’re impacting everything from the workplace to grocery shopping … I’ve even made a proclamation not to use the “M” word any more because, frankly, I’m sick and tired of hearing the word. That’s how important they are.

In any company, the C-Suite often has high hopes for data and analytics integration —as it’s just good strategy and can have a positive impact on revenues, margins and efficiency. But, a recent McKinsey Global survey suggests that the involvement and buy-in by senior executive leadership is more crucial to the success of these programs than one might think.

You know marketing is a key driver of success for your business in commercial real estate, but do you know how to measure it?If you haven’t figured out how to quantify your marketing efforts, you are at a massive disadvantage.

Richard Branson once said, “We have two ears and one mouth, using them in proportion is not a bad idea.” — I think we can all benefit from reading that sentence again.

Whether you’re a C-Suite executive or are trying to move up the ladder, brilliant ideas can be found in the most unlikely places —and you won’t hear those ideas unless you’re listening.