The Secret to Disruption (Hint: It's Not Your Youth 😉)

People love to blame generations.

We’re quick to point out differences between our generation and the next, and to assume we can’t learn anything from each other. 

Not only does this attitude not serve us, research on disruption shows it’s completely bogus!

You don’t become more resistant to change or disruption the older you get, and you’re not more disruptive when you’re younger.

(Yes, despite the “Okay, Boomer” responses and reaction videos on social media!)

Age doesn’t matter in disruption. Sure, there are some differences between generations — people text now instead of meeting in person. That made it hard for Boomers to communicate with Gen Y at first, but now everyone does it. The “old dog new tricks” adage is the only thing that’s tired.  

A more compelling consideration than age group or generation is disposition. 

I often get asked, how do you stay on top of trends? And while I feel young at heart, that’s not why. 

Instead, it’s about my disposition.

Some people are disposed to trying new things. We call those people early adopters. I’m in that category. I’m constantly asking, what’s new? I love new people, new experiences, new tech, new ideas. I’ve always been wired that way. 

On the other hand, a close friend jokes that he’s the “lead indicator” that something’s about to go mainstream. He prefers to find a tool he really likes, then use it for decades. He’s not an early adopter. If he’s trying something different, it’s because he’s really thought it over. And when he commits, he commits. Full throttle.

If you don’t love to embrace new things, that’s okay. It doesn’t mean you’re too old or “stuck in your ways.” It just means you’re wired differently. And while our culture tends to embrace “early adopters,” we need diverse kinds of wiring for all stages of successful operations, transformations, and disruptions. 

Why? Having different ways of thinking isn't just an organizational “nice to have”—it's essential for growth. The friction between different perspectives and approaches, while sometimes challenging to manage, is exactly what drives breakthrough thinking and transformational change. A single way of thinking will never represent the full spectrum of perspectives needed for true innovation.

All the more reason, then, not to confuse age with disposition—or disposition with open or closed mindedness. ✌️

Hit reply and let me know — are you an early adopter, or do you prefer to take your time?

-Charlene

What I Can’t Stop Talking About: 

• Bad news is good news. You might be tempted to avoid your unhappy customers—but they're actually your best teachers. Here's why leaning into dissatisfaction is the key to great leadership. (Hat tip to Risto Siilasmaa, former chairman of Nokia, for capturing this wisdom so memorably 🎩). 

• Let your purpose be the antidote to your doubt. From literal cliff edges to pivotal business decisions, I've learned that our biggest "gulp" moments need more than courage—they need connection to why we started. Here's what happened when I almost scrapped our AI book—and why I’m so glad I didn’t. 

• The AI Strategy Wake-Up Call. In 2024, we threw AI use cases at the wall to see what stuck. In 2025, leaders need real strategies and brave conversations. Here are my three predictions—and the winners will face them all, head-on. 🔮

My Latest: 

• Catch up on my webinars! You can still review the slides and recordings of my two new webinars. In “Unlocking The Power of Generative AI,” I explain how to set up a generative AI “playground,” three ways to elevate your leadership with step-by-step instructions, and the broad outlines of creating a strategy. In “Developing a Winning Generative AI Strategy for Competitive Advantage,” I walk through the steps needed to create a cohesive AI strategy. 

• What AI governance and Goldilocks have in common. 🐻When it comes to AI governance, we need to get the balance "just right." In Leading Disruption, I’m sharing why finding your organization's "Goldilocks zone" of governance is the secret to successful transformation. Head over to the newsletter for the pillars to a balanced framework. 

• The no-frills AI tech stack you actually need. There's the big, expensive way to do AI—and then there’s the cheap, simple way. Can you guess which one I like better? 😉Join me next Tuesday, January 28th at 9am PT/12pm ET to learn why starting small beats going big—and how to avoid the expensive mistakes most companies make.

My Upcoming Appearances:

If you want me to speak at an upcoming event or conduct a workshop with your executive team, please drop me a note at [email protected]. 

• Jan. 27: Dent: AI Reception & Showcase, San Diego, CA

• Feb 13: AFIRE Winter Conference, Washington, DC

• Mar 20: SHRM, Philadelphia, PA

• Aug 29: SHRM, Indianapolis, IN

If this information was helpful, there’s plenty more!

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