Discovering New Perspectives And Why Facilitation Is The Key To The Future with Douglas Ferguson
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Douglas Ferguson
Douglas Ferguson is an entrepreneur and technologist with over 20 years of experience. He is a master facilitator and the author of three innovation books: Beyond the Prototype, How to Remix Anything, and Start Within. He is also the founder and president of Voltage Control, a facilitation agency helping teams to work better together.
Douglas discusses the importance of finding new perspectives by looking outside of our own industry, and how this can lead to innovative thinking. He also talks about the importance of facilitation, and how it will shape the future of an ever-more automated working landscape.
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Resources
VoltageControl.com – Check out Douglas’s website!
2 Top Career Tips
1) We must look outside of our own industries. By opening ourselves to new ways of working, of new experiences, we allow ourselves to find new perspectives and new ways of thinking.
2) Facilitation is the skill that will allow us to step into the future of the workplace. As AI and software becomes better able to take over jobs, we will need to rely on the things that make us more human.
Show Notes
Worst Career Moment
Whenever emotions get the best of Douglas, it can get the better of him. Being dressed down in public can give rise to negative emotional impact. By tempering our response, we can turn these situations into empowering ones.
Career Highlight
Building a sophisticated metric system that had to scale rapidly to keep up with the growth of its client base. Douglas recognized the need to balance the technical concerns and the elegance of the system itself in order to accomplish something entirely new.
The Future
The effects of COVID-19 upon the world have caused the world itself to take far more notice of technological advancements, and how technology itself is a benefit to humanity. Innovations are coming swiftly every day, and are changing the landscape of how we interact.
The Reveal
What first attracted you to a career in I.T.?
Being brought up on a farm , Douglas was instilled with a sense of enhancement through ingenuity. When he was introduced to computers, he applied this sensibility, and a career was born.
What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Networking is key to adaptability, and understanding complexity. The modern world is built upon communication and we must embrace it in order to thrive.
What is the worst career advice you’ve ever received?
To severely punish those who make mistakes. By allowing emotions to overtake a situation, we can often miss out on chances to develop those in our teams, and strengthen our organisations.
If you had to begin your career again in today’s world, what would you do?
Douglas would embrace AI machine learning a lot sooner. It is a transformational technology that will lead to lasting change.
What career objectives are you currently focusing on?
After spending much time in pivoting his organization, Douglas now has the opportunity to look for areas that require creative thinking and innovation, while delivering the levels of excellence that his team is known for.
What’s the number one non-technical skill that has helped you in your career so far?
– The ability to synthesise quickly and on the fly, as well as the speed with which information is processed.
What do you do to keep your own career energized?
Staying abreast of new developments and innovations keeps us fresh and keen to take on the challenges of tomorrow.
What do you do in your spare time away from technology?
Boxing and exercise are a wonderful way to expend physical energy, while musical pursuits and meditation keep the mental faculties fresh and creative.
Contact The Guest
Contact Douglas Ferguson through the following social media platforms:
Twitter: https://twitter.com//douglas_voltage
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