Leadership Qualities
Leadership

Adopting Leadership Qualities for Success in 2022 and Beyond

Some Leadership Qualities are Universal

There are aspects of leadership that are universal, and will always define what it means to be a leader. However, shifts in the way businesses are managed, as well as shifts in technology, are making new skills absolutely fundamental to modern leadership.

Into 2022, and beyond, a mixture of legacy leadership techniques and cutting-edge innovations in management will need to be balanced for best results overall. Here we’ll briefly go over a few things you’ll want to think about for the most well-rounded and reliable leadership outcomes going forward.

Especially considering the impact of the pandemic in 2020 and into 2021, there are certain key considerations you must understand as a modern leader.


The Three Q’s: IQ, EQ, and AQ

IQ is Intelligence Quotient, EQ is Emotional Quotient, and AQ is Adversity Quotient. A leader needs to have high intelligence, be emotionally balanced, and be able to handle adversity. To a degree, you can enhance all three. EQ and AQ are more in your control than IQ, but if you’re diligent, you can definitely become smarter. There’s a balance to achieve between all three, and you need to find it as a leader.

This is especially true as you deal with employees that aren’t always on-site anymore, and require you to monitor them collaterally through technology rather than directly and in person.

Whereas the boss who has employees on-site could, by his very presence, prove a motivational force, the remote manager has no such advantage and must be much more clever. There’s higher adversity involved, this leads to more emotional issues, and together these things can be hard to handle for those with low IQ.


Planning in Advance is More Fundamental Than Ever

If you don’t plan in advance, you’re going to have issues that could have been avoided otherwise. With technology, there’s a greater ability overall to flexibly manage operational infrastructure. However, tech issues will manifest unexpectedly, and good leaders are far enough ahead of such eventualities that they don’t represent an operational issue.


Motivating Staff and Being Transparent at the Same Time

Staff needs to be motivated toward success. This is a lot more difficult when you’re dealing with teams that are both on-site, and operating in a remote capacity. The more “faceless” you are, the harder it will be for you to “wrangle” your workforce into alignment.

The phrase “herding cats” comes to mind. Remote and on-site teams need to know they can trust you, and that means being as transparent as possible. If they feel you’re hiding some secret from them, they won’t trust you, and so they won’t be transparent with you.

When an employee is on-site, this is problematic enough. When they’re operating remotely, the issue can be unbearable. Accordingly, you need to find direct and collateral ways to motivate staff. Incentives are helpful. Also, they need to know you’re operating “as advertised” so they can trust you, and that means being as transparent as you’re able to.


Modern Leaders Need a Balanced Mix of Strength and Humility

If all these things sound complicated, they are. Work infrastructure in 2022 will require an effective balance of both strength and humility.

You need to work harder as a leader. But simultaneously, you have the option of remote management as well. If you’re too remote, that isn’t humble — though it can be a show of strength. Is it the right kind of strength, though? You’ve got to think about these things.

Good leaders have always admitted their own mistakes, worked through them and expected employees to do the same. But when you are operating remotely, how can employees see you own up to something you’ve done in error? There are a lot of nuances here that need to be considered.


Remote and On-site Infrastructures Predicate Flexibility and Resilience

You’ve got to be able to maintain productivity even in the face of an area-wide internet outage. When you’ve got remote employees, that’s difficult. There can be days where you’re unable to produce anything. Resiliency is absolutely paramount.

It becomes necessary to sort of “war game” varying scenarios out in advance. Multiple backups are necessary, RMM (Remote Management and Monitoring) software is considerable, and established protocols — which allow you to quickly and conveniently contact staff — are advisable.

Being both flexible and resilient in a work environment that’s split between remote and on-site workers requires establishing infrastructure in the form of protocols immediately. Employees need to know there’s a window where, if you call them, and they haven’t notified you of something like a sick day, they pick up the phone, or respond to the instant message. To be flexible and resilient requires careful advance planning.


Thinking Things Out, Solving Problems, Getting Your Head in the Right Place

Long-term relevance will remain pertaining to these skills. For generations, those managing projects have had to leverage data toward problem-solving in a balanced, flexible, strong manner that invites employees to follow naturally. As remote infrastructure has come to define the working environment, this means Big Data metrics rooted in the cloud become necessary to track the progress of varying projects in real-time, and effectively schedule varying goals.

The big change presently is that demand for skills associated with hands-on and remote leadership is greater than ever. Today’s society has been conditioned not to lead, but to follow. Accordingly, innovation, leadership, analytical thinking, and creativity are skills in hot demand, and fundamental to any leader. Working with tech companies who can provide software that helps is a very good strategy. Consultation is wise. Determining and practicing associated skills also makes sense. Flexibility, resilience, strength, humility, transparency, staff motivation, advance planning, IQ, EQ, and AQ are all more necessary to leaders now than they’ve ever been. Keep these things in mind as you manage teams going forward. The more skilled you are, the more productive employees are, and the more competitive your business is overall.


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Working from Home
Remote Work

Working From Home: Pros and Cons of the New Shift to Remote Infrastructure

Remote Infrastructure Was Already on the Rise

Before the crises that started in 2020 and bled into 2021, remote work infrastructure was already on the rise. BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), DaaS (Device as a Service), and cloud computing were already changing the game. Employees could either bring their own laptops, or they could use options secured by a company willing to “rent” mobile devices at a monthly fee.

Regardless which particular remote infrastructure was secured, employees could work from anywhere, companies saved money on overhead by either renting hardware, or outsourcing it to employees entirely, and costs associated with the maintenance as well as expense that goes along with site rental became notably smaller. There’s a financial incentive for businesses to go the “remote” route, allowing workers to get their duties done on their own time, and in their own residence.

Accordingly, when the pandemic panic forced the issue, some companies were already there. Other companies had no choice but to justify associated costs, and that meant leaning into the expense reduction that comes with remote infrastructure. So, it should be no surprise to anyone that remote infrastructure is here to stay.

The first glimmers of such infrastructure began in the late eighties with the internet, less tech-savvy employees began being involved with such production models by the early 2000s. Just before the 2020/2021 crisis, remote workers were at an all-time high. Now, 45% of all workers operate in some sort of remote capacity, and that number will likely grow. So, the question becomes: what are the pros and cons of this operational environment? It’s not all positives, but the negatives seem to be less impacting than the advantages. Let’s explore both pros and cons here.

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Pro: Commute Elimination Impacts Motor Accidents, Cost, and Time

If you’ve only got a 5-mile commute, that’s 10 miles round trip. This comes out to 50 miles a week. Barring any holidays, for the 52 weeks in a year, that’s 2,600 miles. If you’re dealing with 80-mile round-trip commute five days a week, that’s 20,800 miles a year.

Cutting 2,600 to 20,8000 miles from your daily commute every year severely reduces your cost of living. As of 2021, the IRS estimates cost-per-mile deductions at 56 cents. Wear-and-tear, fuel, maintenance, insurance, depreciation, and incidentals factor into that cost. So that’s a collateral savings of, potentially, between $1,456 and $11,648 a year, or $121.33 to $970.66 per month.

Essentially, you’ll make more money in travel savings alone. Plus, you get the time back. A 10-mile round-trip commute will take 10 minutes to an hour a day, depending on traffic. A 40-mile round-trip commute could take anywhere from 80 minutes to 3 hours a day. Altogether, you reclaim that time, you cut associated travel costs, and you are safer from potential traffic accidents.


Con: Incidental Burnout can Impact Employee Productivity

The biggest con of at-home work has to do with employees pushing themselves too hard. They want to get their workload done every day, and managers think they can keep piling it on because employee A is so productive.

On-site, employees will slack before and after breaks, and procrastinate during hours that are supposed to be productive. At home, employees tend to get as much work done as they can to be free later in the week. This is good for the company but can burn out an employee fast.

There’s a balance to be achieved between pushing too hard, and not hard enough. If you’re not self-disciplined, getting the balance right can be hard. When you’re your own boss, nobody is as hard on you, or easy on you, as you.


Pro: A Clear Reduction in Stress, and More Flexibility

Without a long commute involving lost time, fuel, and vehicular value, you can get more things done in your day. Also, if you can get work done on your own schedule, you can shuffle community and family duties to match what you need. Altogether, these things represent a clear reduction in stress overall.
Con: Fewer Daily Human Interactions and Movement, Impacting Health
Humans are meant to be social, and when social interaction wanes, that can be bad for health overall. Also, at-home workers have no real prerogative to get out and exercise, meaning there’s a danger of sedentary health impact. If you’re working from home, discipline yourself to get out in public as much as you comfortably can, and to exercise daily.


Pro: An Expanded Opportunity for Unique Exercise

On the other hand, because employees have more time and flexibility, they can pursue more diverse means of exercise. Hiking, biking, surfing, climbing–these things are much more tangible if you’re working from home, than if you’re trying to juggle 1 to 10 hours of commute and 40 to 80 hours of work a week at a central location.


Con: A Greater Reliance on Technology Overall

Those working remotely need electricity, warmth, the internet, and bandwidth. While such costs tend to inhere to a household anyway, and are still less than a daily commute, there is an expense involved, and a reliance to consider. If local internet goes down, employee must find a coffee shop, library, or other nearby Wi-Fi access point.


Pro: Greater Pay, Availability of Staff, Better Life and Family Management

Employees save money in time and travel, so that means remote employees make more money. They’re also more available, because they’re working from home, and flexibility means managing life issues and those related to family is easier, so they’re often more satisfied with their job.


Con: Notable Levels of Loneliness, Increased Electricity and Utility Bills

Employees who don’t have a family and work alone experience more loneliness. Also, as mentioned earlier, electricity costs still apply, and employees using their own heat and water at home rather than at the office have to foot the bill.


The Pros Tend to Outweigh the Cons for Many Businesses

If you’re a sole-proprietor, or you’re a business looking to outsource office space using remote infrastructure, the pros do tend to overcome the cons–but there are cons. Those listed here just scratch the surface, though they do tend to define the industry overall. Figure out which pros and cons are specific to your business and see whether remote work is best for you. One thing is sure: the trend is here to stay, and it’s likely only going to grow.


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IoT and Technology
Internet Of Things

Where Things Stand with IoT and Technology Developments in 2021

A Notable Shift in Technological Capabilities

2020 and 2021 saw an explosion of decentralized technology, a chief component being the Internet of Things, or IoT. Today’s remote workers often utilize at least one mobile device connected to the web. Meanwhile, 45% of full-time employees are working fully or part-time in a remote capacity as of September of 2021.

Think about this: in 2020, there were 35 billion connected devices. In 2021, there were 46 billion. In three years, the expectation is that number will hit 83 billion. There is a shift in the tech world right now, and it is titanic.

Edge computing, an increase in cybersecurity breakthroughs in IoT as used in manufacturing, HR, and agriculture, smart cities, and big data enhancements have all come to define 2021. Future advances will be rooted in today’s trending tech. Businesses looking to keep pace need to know which solutions will best fit their needs. Here, several of these tech trends will be explored a bit more closely.


A New Techno-Industrial Revolution

One area of the economy that is poised to be totally transformed by today’s tech advances is traditional industry. Manufacturing, agriculture, and retail are expected to command some 70% of IoT tech applications by 2024.

Businesses in the industrial sector need to pay attention to such advances as a means of facilitating competitive viability, and cutting operational costs. Vendors and other businesses interfacing with such areas of industry should likewise take note.


Connectivity, Predictive Maintenance, Security, and Analytics

There is an increased need for connectivity in a world where IoT is coming to dominate productive tech. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, infrared, satellite linkup, etc.–IoT needs to have options in all these areas to be viable in its own right.

Meanwhile, IoT is a fine option for maximizing hardware utility. Web-connected devices can be programmed to monitor modern heavy equipment functionality, alerting operators when maintenance is necessary or there’s an error in normal operations. Breakdowns can be anticipated and avoided, maximizing the lifespan of all kinds of industrial equipment.

Security is enhanced through IoT in a variety of ways. From home security systems you can periodically check with your smartphone wherever you happen to be, to industrial-level facilities which require big data interfaces to process all the operational data, security can be increased by IoT. Continuing developments in terms of both software and hardware are driving the industry, including automated drones and IoT cameras, which are getting smaller than ever.

Analytics are a key feature of IoT. Devices monitoring manufacturing machines can collect data from multiple locations and machines, helping managers design production models from that data which are more streamlined and efficient. Supply chains can be optimized, as can energy usage and security.


IoT Development Based on Data, Better Workforce Management, Blockchain

Just as industrial hardware benefits from IoT data, so do IoT devices themselves. Their own functionality and utility can be continuously optimized using the same data. It’s a sort of synthetic neural network that’s ever-expanding. The more IoT is used, the more data there is; and so the process fuels itself to a certain extent.

Beyond tech enhancement, you can manage workforces on-site and remotely with more efficiency using modern tech advances. IoT and cloud computing have made remote workers a business model feature that tends to be lucrative for many companies. The workers themselves are enthusiastic about this sort of infrastructure as well. They get to have more control over their schedules, they’re more productive, and businesses spend less money on things like office space, desks, physical equipment, or custodial staff.

IoT is also driving blockchain tech owing to security. DDoS attacks can’t pierce blockchain, meaning IoT data stored on a blockchain is desirable for better security overall. As IoT grows, so will the need for reliable and scalable security solutions.


Data Processing Advances, Edge Computing, and Expanded Demand

Cloud computing is a network of servers arrayed together like pixels on a computer screen. Together, each acts as a sort of data engine, and their processing “horsepower” exponentially expands. Well, IoT devices also process a certain amount of data, and when you connect them together, you can initiate an “edge computing” network.

This technology would allow, for example, an industrial campus with a few hundred IoT devices to effectively have its own localized cloud network. Of course, that’s not a 1:1 comparison; “the edge” can’t replace cloud options. But in a nutshell, edge computing can do much to curb latency, initiate more effective operations, and is a greener means to compute data–you can read more here.

Altogether, you can expect demand to expand exponentially, similar to the availability of computational storage. Multiple edge networks, cloud networks, and IoT conveniences will lead to an increased appetite throughout the public for such tech solutions. It’s like a chemical reaction, and processing capacity was the spark added in 2020 and 2021, resulting in a significant increase in IoT adoption.


A Decentralized, Increasingly Swift Digital Future

The world is presently experiencing a sort of takeover in terms of IoT-related innovations. Remember when computer monitors used to be vacuum-tubed monstrosities? Remember how quickly flat screen tech replaced them? When is the last time you remember seeing an old vacuum-tubed computer monitor or television set? That’s what we’re looking at with IoT tech right now. (For some more background into the topics explored here, you can follow this link.)

The truth is, the industry is being totally reinvented, and the world is slowly adjusting to match such swift changes. The next technological “iteration” is here. IoT is exceptionally innovative, cost-effective, and useful. Very soon, it will be fundamental for just about any business.

It’s recommendable to work with companies already on the cutting edge. At minimum, you want to find consultants from such technology professionals that you can trust concerning these shifts in IT utility, to keep up with the latest in tech. IoT is here, and it’s here to stay.


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2nd annual industry insights
Internet Of Things

2nd Annual Industry Insights IoT Awards Announces Winners

Celebrating the businesses and leaders moving the IoT world forward, IoT Marketing and Industry Insights Webinars held the 2nd Annual Industry Insights IoT Awards on December 16. Hosted by IoT Marketing CMO and Host of Industry Insights Webinars Tiffani Neilson and BH IoT Group Partner Steve Brumer, the Industry Insights IoT Awards honors technology ecosystem professionals, connected solutions providers, and high-tech leaders driving innovation and digital transformation through the use of IoT.

The winners of the 2nd Annual Industry Insights IoT Awards are:

“From application to deployment to consulting, this year’s Industry Insights IoT Awards winners truly exemplify leadership and excellence in the IoT landscape, paving the way for digital transformation across a number of sectors,” said host, Tiffani Neilson. “We’re proud to honor the achievements of these businesses and leaders pushing the IoT industry forward in the midst of disruption and adversity.”

The Industry Insights Webinars series brings together thought leaders, experts, and business professionals for a panel-style discussion with Q&A. After just approximately a year and a half since its initial launch, the series already averages between 1,200 to 2,500 live attendees across multiple platforms.

To watch a full replay of the 2nd Annual Industry Insights IoT Awards virtual ceremony, visit IoTMktg.com/2nd-Annual-Industry-Insights-IoT-Awards.


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Covid Impacts
Smart Health

COVID-19’s Short-Term and Long-Term Impacts on the IoT Ecosystem

Prior to the pandemic, Internet of Things (IoT) technology was steadily spreading in the business community. When the pandemic struck, it created more urgency to accelerate the adoption of IoT. Many companies began opening up remote work, which helped countless businesses survive. Here’s a deeper look at how the pandemic affected smart technology networks connected with billions of IoT devices.


Industries Using IoT

Early adopters of IoT technology included utilities, manufacturers, logistics firms and healthcare organizations. These industries initially aimed to cut costs in favor of more sustainable solutions. They embrace smart technology, which includes IoT as well as various forms of AI. Robots and automation are part of this mix, which are both useful for social distancing and mitigating labor shortages.

IoT devices strategically placed throughout a company’s infrastructure report real-time data to a central database. Analysts are able to view a wide range of company data through online portals. This big data has helped water utilities identify and cut water leaks much faster, while it has similarly helped power companies overcome power losses. Since the pandemic shut down schools and college campuses, eLearning has become a solution through online classes. IoT sensors can collect a wide range of interactive data over IT networks that can then be monitored and analyzed by administrators. As much as schools and other organizations need this powerful technology, many are hesitant to invest big money in it due to financial constraints caused by the pandemic.

Many people’s lifestyles changed as a result of the pandemic, as employees commonly either began working from home or quit their jobs to reassess their goals. IoT devices integrated with apps have been the key to maintaining steady workforces to provide innovations such as:

  • Remote asset control
  • Workforce tracking
  • Online collaboration

A big question many companies that are holding out on smart technology have relates to ROI. Many small companies simply don’t have the budgets to invest in expensive technology while larger companies want to see more success stories.


Healthcare

Healthcare providers have used telemedicine for many years, in which patients attend doctor meetings by phone. But due to the pandemic filling up hospitals and a labor shortage, it was necessary for hospitals to quickly shift to telemedicine. This concept has expanded to include online self-help and video conferencing.

Hospitals are recommending an increasing number of IoT-driven wearable devices for remote monitoring of biological data. Another innovation is the use of voice technology to communicate data. Vocalis, for example, is designing a healthcare app that detects Covid-19 symptoms through voice signals. Another use of IoT has been for the testing and tracing of Covid-19.

One of the main reasons for IoT revenue growth the past few years has been due to usage in the healthcare sector. Global Data forecasts revenue from wearables is expected to rise to $64 billion by 2024.


Smart Homes

Modern homes are now increasingly designed with smart technology, such as smart meters that measure energy or water usage. Smart homes will likely become more connected with smart workplaces as several major tech corporations have announced they will continue remote work even in the post-pandemic era. Some of these companies include Microsoft, Twitter and Square. A recent Gartner study found that 74 percent of CFOs are looking at remote work as a long-term solution. IoT devices integrated into homes will contribute to work at home becoming more comfortable.


Smart Buildings

Various innovations can be found in smart buildings from smart HVAC systems for cleaner indoor air quality to smart thermostats that can be controlled remotely with an app. These innovations make it easy and practical to monitor building data in real time to pinpoint physical vulnerabilities such as air leaks.


Smart Cities

The rise of smart cities such as Hong Kong and Singapore has been a result of aggressive investments in emerging technologies such as IoT, automation, AI and 5G. The payoff is that these cities are more prepared to handle widespread disasters better than traditional cities. Hong Kong’s Smart City Blueprint in 2017 provided details on its goals toward more livable and sustainable cities. As a result, the city was able to respond more quickly to the pandemic.

Since the pandemic began, China has implemented its SkyNet project, in which over 20 million cameras have been installed to monitor densely populated areas. Other nations have embraced more privacy-aware monitoring solutions drawing from radars and LIDARs. Thermal cameras that detect fever grew by over 80 percent from 2020 to 2021. Tools used for social distancing and monitoring include camera-equipped drones.


Transportation and Logistics

Smart transportation technology is expected to become a $156 billion market by 2025. But the pandemic has slowed this development due to significantly less freight delivery and supply chain bottlenecks. Public transportation has also declined due to social distancing concerns. Meanwhile, the logistics market is expected to grow this decade due to the rising demand for IoT in warehousing and delivery services. The world’s largest logistics firm, XPO Logistics, has pioneered new features such as enhanced inventory precision and contactless delivery. During the pandemic, the industry has emphasized cold chain logistics, which mixes smart technology and processes to ensure perishable products such as vaccines are transported at a safe temperature.


Industrial IoT

The industrial sector has already gone far with smart technology, setting new standards and paving new directions for other businesses to follow. A recent McKinsey study found that 93 percent of supply chain and manufacturing professionals are preparing to embrace smart and resilient solutions. Juniper Research projects that the number of industrial IoT (IIoT) sensors in use will reach nearly 37 billion by 2025.


Conclusion

Due to the tremendous strain the pandemic put on society and businesses of all sizes, many companies are looking to adopt IoT and other smart technology. The need for real-time remote data monitoring will help bring society back together. It will be the key to a more sustainable business and cultural landscape in the post-pandemic world.


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