Your performance review was a banger!
He gazes at tomorrow's highlights projected onto the elevator's sleek glass wall, the holographic text illuminating his features. The doors close silently behind him. No distractions. The elevator ascends all 107 floors in smooth, uninterrupted silence, just as he likes it.
At this late hour, the lobby is empty yet alive with movement and a subtle hum generated by kinetic sculptures. Real-time metrics transformed into mesmerising installations, each graceful motion reflecting an aspect of the company's real-time performance. The lobby feels like an engine room blending art and data, a metaphor he is proud to share with every candidate and every guest.
- Congratulations!
He turns to see a colleague from a different department. What was his name?
- Your performance review was a banger! The whole company watched it live!
He smiles modestly, seeing his colleague's eyes shining.
- Thank you. I’m just the frontman of the team’s hard work. It couldn't have happened without them.
- And it wouldn't have happened without you. What a year it’s been for you! You’ve added value in so many places, like playing 5D chess on multiple boards. I’m looking forward to that reality show about your management techniques and experiments.
He chuckles politely.
- The board’s AI seems to get more useful ideas every quarter.
- Let me see you out. Do you know when skill-stacking career paths might be available for all employees?
- It’s too early to speculate, but it is a relatively simple process once the workflows are mapped and updated. Transitioning from task-based or assistive to agentive workflows requires some learning, but the results are exceptional.
- Can you remind me of the differences?
- Sure. A task-based workflow involves you interacting directly with a tool to perform tasks. Value creation requires your real-time attention and interaction.
- Like using a word processor or managing a CRM?
- Exactly. In this case, the software isn't much different from a shovel or a hammer—it's a tool. Now, assistive workflows let you focus on decision-making and setting direction while the tool handles the heavy lifting. You're still involved, but it requires less manual effort.
- What about agentive workflows?
- Agentive workflows are the most complex to implement but offer massive scalability in value creation. In this setup, you use a tool to establish a process or define the desired output based on certain factors. Once set, the workflow has agency and operates independently, no longer requiring your constant supervision
- So it works while I sleep?
- In a manner of speaking, yes. More like you can focus on other tasks while your instructions execute within set parameters.
- But how does this differ from simple automation?
- For some use cases, automation may not be flexible enough. Baking in course correction into automation takes a lot of time. When you have agents working out the problem, you can focus on the outcome.
- Or output. Hmm. Everything comes down to operations when you look close enough.
- Yes, and this is why cross-domain workflows are the hardest to update, but I hope I get there.
- I can’t wait to build a workflow that turns our support tickets into a content marketing strategy.
- What do you mean exactly?
- Support tickets, complaints, and customer problems are all real problems that have proven important enough for someone to contact our support or customer service. If so, why not bundle our solutions or answers into multimodal content, scaling the customer service or support?
- Hmm. You may be into something that perfectly shows the massive value of agentive workflows. You’re no longer a domain-specific tool operator stuck in the loop of repeating tasks.
They exit the building and continue talking as they walk through the VIP parking lot. The warm glow of overhead lights reflects off sleek vehicles while the snow-melting asphalt emits gentle wisps of steam around their shoes, creating a surreal atmosphere.
- Combining the introduction of agentive workflows with skills-stacking career paths, you can soon create enough value and organisational growth you no longer need to worry about automation taking away jobs. AI agents take over your work, not your job.
- If there was only a better interface for this.
- Wait until the humaNPCs finish testing and clear the regulatory next year.
- A virtual team for everyone!
- A team dedicated to evolving your growing skillset as new skills stack over older ones.
- Okay, that’s me.
He stops beside a tiny mint-coloured car that seems comically small for him. Its engine starts to hum, and the lights turn on.
- It’s a real honour to park here.
- Driving the Mint Arrow this week? You know, partners shouldn't make bets with their significant others.
- No way, we’re stopping now. Besides, a little discomfort now and then keeps me creative.
- Any plans for an upgrade once the bonuses roll in?
- Not really. Why do you ask?
- You could upgrade your ride.
- We're focusing more on improving the quality of our free time this year.
- Are you in the market for a cabin in the woods?
- I would say we’re considering our options. Thank you for your kind words. My focus plan expires in a minute. Is there anything else I can help you with?
- No, not this time.
- So what are you waiting for?
His colleague taps his glasses with a mischievous smile on his face.
- I have to record this. I want to see how you'll fit into that tiny car.
- You have no heart.
- Not for you. You're too exceptional for my sympathy.
He tosses his coat into the car and strikes a pose.
- In that case, let’s afterparty this conversation. Enjoy the show.
He winks into the camera and squeezes into the impossibly small driver's seat, making funny faces. The engine roars, and his colleague shakes his head in disbelief, filming the tiny vehicle gliding away into the snowy night.
Hello Practical Futurists,
Welcome back from the future, where top performers' annual reviews are streamed as entertainment, and workflows have the agency to make decisions.
Hit the "Like" button at the top or bottom of this page to inspire others and help them discover the stories you've enjoyed.Good leaders don't just wait for the future.
They help to create it.
Thank you for your continuous support and dedication to envisioning a better future with us.
Let's dive into our weekly workout, where we use futures thinking and product sci-fi to build a future-proof mindset.
To spark your imagination, we'll start with an inspiring quote:
"The future is just the past with more options."
Stuart Brand
As always, we start by linking the story to your personal life, making it more relatable and engaging.
Personal life reflection prompts:
How do you handle staying your true self when put in the spotlight?
Which 2 task-based activities in your life should become agentive first?
How do you decide between recording a moment versus living it?
Which 3 personal skills or qualities do you believe will remain uniquely human in an increasingly AI-driven world?
Good work!
Now, let's focus on the context of the industry, organization, team, service, or product you're working with.
Professional life reflection prompts
In what 3 ways can you balance showcasing individual achievement while crediting team effort?
If you could commission a kinetic sculpture that shows one metric in real-time, which metric would make your team feel proud and productive, and why?
Which 3 processes would you turn into agentive ones first in your current organization and why?
How could your organisation turn support tickets or customer service inquiries into valuable content?
In what 2 ways could your team’s workspace reflect your company's real-time performance?
How would you design skill-stacking career paths for your core team members?
Which 3 of your company’s metrics would be most helpful if transformed into engaging visual experiences?
You did amazing! That’s everything we have for today.
Thank you for expanding your imagination with us. Leaders with bold ideas move our world forward.
Think bright, lead brighter, and see you soon.
Pawel Halicki
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