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by Kudzi Chikumbu

A friend once asked me how I could be a marketing executive, a fragrance influencer with over 400,000 followers, and a paid public speaker all at once. “Don’t those things live in different worlds?” she asked. My answer was simple: It’s the only way to survive.

In today’s career landscape, having just one title, one path, or one platform isn’t safe—it’s risky. We have all heard the clarion call about AI rapidly transforming the workforce. It’s no longer just about skill; it’s about diversifying and leaning into your identity as your moat. What we’re living through is a strategic career inflection point—a moment where the rules of the game change so dramatically that the old playbook becomes obsolete.

When I was earning my MBA at Stanford a decade ago, one of my favorite classes was called Insight to Outcome taught by Thomas S. Wurster. To this day I think about the concept of strategic dissonance, as outlined by Michael Tushman, Charles O’Reilly, and Andy Grove in their legendary paper from 30 years ago, which I read as part of the class. This wisdom from 1996 is still applicable today. In a business context, strategic dissonance is what happens when a company’s actions no longer reflect the changing external environment—even if they keep doing what once worked. When applied to careers, I think of it as career dissonance: when what we’re doing day-to-day doesn’t get us to the life we actually want because the rules have changed.

And right now, AI is the change that is accelerating that dissonance.

People are talking about AI replacing jobs and we need to focus on what to do next in a strategic way. According to McKinsey, nearly 12 million U.S. workers may need to change occupations by 2030 due to AI and automation. That’s not hypothetical. That’s an inflection point.

What to do

So how do we not crumble? We need to understand inflection points. In class at Stanford I remember learning that at every strategic inflection point, three things happen:

1. The degree of difficulty of evolving increases. Getting to your new goal gets harder. The path becomes steeper.

2. Only a few strategic actions move the needle. Not everything will work. You have to make sharper bets. Focus on what matters.

3. Resources are even more constrained. You need to think about more efficient ways to use your time and energy. If you keep doing everything the way you used to, you’ll burn out.

Yes, these challenges feel uncomfortable. But they’re also invitations—to focus, experiment, and grow. So what do you do in this moment of massive shift in the workplace? These are the three things I’ve found that worked for me and people I admire to address the challenges brought on by the advent of this specific career inflection point.

1. Use the tools to become more of yourself

Instead of fearing AI, leverage it to ease the degree of difficulty of building your “portfolio” career. This way you can address the first challenges of strategic inflection points. When LLMs like ChatGPT and Claude dropped, I didn’t use them to replace my voice—I used them to refine it. I used AI to launch my podcast (Not Just One Thing), structure my content, and sharpen my public speaking. People say AI tools kill creativity. In my case, these tools didn’t diminish me. They revealed more of me.

2. Build your calendar like it’s your portfolio and buy back your time

Each strategic inflection point forces you to get sharper about where your energy goes. And the good news is, constraint breeds clarity. Only a few things are going to move you forward. People get stuck trying to master prompt engineering by never starting. You are better off testing, measuring, and iterating. You don’t need to master every prompt—just experiment out loud. That’s how you find the next version of you. When you find out what’s working, focus more on that. This helps you address the second and third challenges of strategic inflection points.

You will no longer need to waste all your energy on low-impact actions. Use AI to automate your logistics. Reclaim that hour to work on your side project. Book time to journal, plan, or build a content system. According to a RescueTime study, the average knowledge worker spends just 2 hours and 48 minutes per day on productive tasks. That means you’re not just fighting burnout—you’re fighting wasted energy.

In my case, I used tools to streamline my work and double down on my fragrance content. I tested ideas, launched small, and iterated fast. You can build a micro business, pitch yourself for speaking, or start developing a product—all with the tools already at your fingertips.

3. Make your story your competitive advantage

One of the most powerful ideas from the strategic dissonance paper was that most companies keep expanding their existing competencies instead of evolving with the market. The same is true in our careers. We double down on what we’ve already done, instead of asking what will matter next. What’s the best way to do this? What’s your everlasting competitive advantage? Your real edge in this new world isn’t technical. It’s personal. Your personal story.

I was born in Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa. I started out in accounting, but I always knew I wanted to be a creator. I made YouTube videos. Then pivoted into tech. I joined musical.ly, which became TikTok, and spent years helping creators find their voice. I was using my own passion of wanting to be a creator and my analytical skills from my time as an accountant. This use of my authentic story allows me to stand out and build a career. People call me multi-hyphenate. I just think of it as an integrated portfolio career.

In a world built for sameness, difference is your power. I learned that from another class at Stanford that was taught by Allison Kluger and Tyra Banks. Your background is your moat. It’s the thing that no prompt can generate, and no algorithm can replace.

In this new world, your hybrid path isn’t a hurdle, it’s your blueprint to success. We are not at the end of work as many people fear. We’re at the beginning of becoming. As Maya Watson said on an episode of my podcast, Not Just One Thing: “It’s not about what you do. It’s about who you’re becoming.” That’s the work. She’s right. And you’re going to need more than one title to get there. Being multi-hyphenate isn’t indulgent—it’s how you stay employed, inspired, and in motion.

The people who will thrive are the ones who use the tools, manage their time like a portfolio, and tell the truth about who they really are. That’s how we build careers that are dynamic, fulfilling, and truly human.

This post originally appeared at fastcompany.com

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by Aytekin Tank

Having been on both sides of the table—as employee and manager—I can confidently say that no one looks forward to annual performance reviews.

As an employee, you might find yourself bracing for critiques and rehearsing defenses. Maybe you’re asked to rate your own performance and feel unsure whether to play it humble or confident. And that’s before you even start combing through an entire year’s worth of highs and lows.

Employers are likewise tasked with the time-consuming exercise of digging through months of work for each employee.

But the real issue isn’t just that annual reviews are stressful—it’s that they’re often ineffective. They can leave employees feeling frustrated and disengaged. Meanwhile, organizations continue to waste time on systems that do little to meaningfully improve performance or support career growth. Some even rank employees, pitting them against each other in a race that completely undermines the spirit of collaboration. I know that kind of atmosphere would not work for my company.

Today’s employees want something different: timely, ongoing feedback that helps them improve in the moment. It’s not just a more psychologically gentler approach—it also delivers results. In fact, the percentage of U.S. companies using annual reviews dropped from 82% in 2016 to just 49% in 2023, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. It’s no doubt due to the benefits of real-time feedback. Here’s a closer look at some of those advantages.

Real-time feedback accelerates improvement

Imagine you’re a line cook in a restaurant. You’ve been preparing a dish from the spring/summer menu the same way for months. Then, in September, your sous chef informs you that you’ve been leaving out a key ingredient all along. The feedback comes too late to matter—you’re already moving on to the fall menu.

Delayed feedback, in short, is unhelpful.

“Annual reviews are too infrequent for the cycle of work today in most enterprises,” says James N. Baron, a professor at Yale School of Management. “Goals negotiated at the beginning of the year have often become obsolete and irrelevant by the end-of-year review.” That’s why more and more organizations are shifting away from annual reviews.

Timely feedback allows employees to adjust quickly. Baron advocates for real-time coaching, in which managers work directly alongside their team members. When leaders stay close to the work, their feedback is immediate and actionable. But when they’re removed from day-to-day operations—when they’re too far from the trenches—they can’t possibly understand where employees need to improve.

At AstraZeneca, managers adopted a more hands-on coaching approach. Four years later, the company saw a 12% increase in core coaching capabilities and a 70% boost in managers’ confidence in leading meaningful coaching conversations. Ongoing feedback makes the coaching process more effective and manageable for managers as well.

Frequent feedback boosts motivation and morale

As my company’s workforce increasingly includes millennial and Gen Z employees, I’ve seen a steady rise in the desire for continual feedback. While younger workers are sometimes unfairly labeled as overly sensitive, in my experience, they welcome constructive criticism, especially when it helps them grow and move closer to their career goals. Companies that want to attract and retain top talent are taking note. 

Regular, informal check-ins offer another advantage: They turn feedback into a dialogue rather than a one-sided annual monologue. This helps employers better understand their employees’ career goals and collaborate on aligning those goals with the company’s broader objectives. These conversations shift from sources of dread to wellsprings of motivation.

Simply put, ongoing feedback helps keep people on track, ideally in a direction that serves both their personal development and the company’s success.

More feedback, less fear: Shifting the tone of evaluation

In the annual review process, there’s often a performative element in which leaders feel compelled to balance praise with critique, regardless of what’s warranted by the actual employee’s performance. Whether it’s delivered as a compliment sandwich or a straight-up list of pros and cons, the experience can leave employees feeling dissatisfied and deflated. The mere word “feedback” from a manager can trigger an employee’s threat response, flooding the brain with adrenaline and making it harder to process and act on what’s being said.

In contrast, when feedback is given regularly, it tends to be received more positively. Employees view it as less threatening and more helpful. Over time, frequent reinforcement and recognition lead to greater engagement and performance.

As CEO of my company for nearly two decades, I can attest: It feels good to give positive feedback. Over time, it creates a virtuous cycle: You start looking for moments to commend employee performance just as much as you look for ways to help them improve.

This post originally appeared at fastcompany.com

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By William Arruda

Leadership styles must evolve to stay relevant. Yet often, there’s a gap between what’s needed and the way many leaders operate. During the Industrial Revolution, a directive, command-and-control approach made sense. That style was aligned with the needs of the era. Despite today’s vastly different landscape, though, many leaders remain focused on KPIs, hierarchy, and top-down control. That has created a leadership crisis that’s impacting productivity, loyalty, and engagement.

Successful Leaders Are Human Leaders

The most successful leaders are authentic leaders who take a human-centered approach to motivating and engaging their people. That involves leading with empathy, collaboration, and connection. As technology continues to reshape the workplace and change accelerates across virtually every industry and job function, being human isn’t just a differentiator, it’s a leadership superpower.

These nine defining characteristics describe the most effective and respected leaders in today’s world of work. The common thread among these impactful leaders is their focus on humanity and their commitment to the people they serve. Successful leaders are:

1. Authentic

Strong leaders are authentic leaders and are crystal clear about who they are and what they stand for. They are self-aware. They know their values, vision, purpose, unique strengths, and differentiators. You never have to guess what they’re about. Although they might model behaviors of other successful leaders, they stay true to who they are, are comfortable in their own shoes, and don’t try to be someone they are not. That’s what makes them magnetic.

2. Consistent

Strong leaders are easy to follow because their behavior is steady and reliable. You don’t have to wonder about what’s important to them or how they will react to different situations. They’re both reliable and predictable. Every interaction, whether it’s a one-on-one meeting, a keynote, or a LinkedIn post, reinforces their core message and qualities. Consistency is one of the all-important three Cs of branding, and it’s core to today’s effective leaders. That’s because consistency builds trust among team members and with other internal and external stakeholders.

3. Differentiated

Great leaders don’t fade into the background. They stand out by being unapologetically themselves. They know their personal brand differentiation. Whether through a distinct point of view, a powerful skillset, a signature catchphrase, or a unique leadership style, they are recognizable because they are unique. Differentiated leaders embrace what makes them unique and use it to their advantage. Self-proclaimed irreverent CEO Sir Richard Branson is known for being non-conforming, unforgettable, and always true to his brand.

4. Relevant

Successful leaders evolve with the times. They stay attuned to the needs, challenges, and aspirations of their audiences, ensuring their message always feels current and needed. They have a growth mindset and are lifelong learners. They never rest on their laurels, remaining open, curious, and committed to remaining relevant. While being focused and present, successful leaders are also thinking about what’s next. Their mindset is expansive, and they encourage others to stretch beyond their comfort zones.

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Story by Joe Galvin

For CEOs, putting on their oxygen masks first means prioritizing their mental, physical, and emotional wellness.

When the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020, it brought unprecedented uncertainty, including a break in a 10-year run of economic stability. CEOs had cozied into a relatively consistent and predictable business environment; they thought they knew what to expect and how to plan for it. However, the pandemic ushered in a new era marked by rapid disruption, unpredictability, and uncertainty.

The state of burnout among CEOs

Looking back at Q2 of 2020, Vistage’s quarterly survey tracking CEO sentiment suddenly dropped 19.2 points from the previous quarter. A state of uncertainty and fear left many CEOs frozen in place while the specter of a sci-fi pathogen loomed. As the pandemic continued to wax and wane for years, the index experienced significant volatility. It whipsawed from its Q2 2020 low to a peak just four quarters later in Q2 2021, only to plunge back down exactly a year later in Q2 2022.

CEO sentiment subsequently bottomed out at the low end of its range. After remaining relatively stable—albeit sluggish—it peaked again in December 2024 with the entry of a new administration into the Oval Office, only to reverse its gains when the federal government introduced its “on again, off again” tariffs and trade policy changes in Q1 2025.

The effects of uncertainty and rapid change 

Over the last five years, CEOs have been forced to open their aperture of uncertainty and embrace rapid change. They’ve had to throw out every book on business and reimagine what success looks like and how to achieve it. Over time, this prolonged state of disruption and uncertainty has, unsurprisingly, taken its toll on the workforce, customers, and CEOs themselves, who often shoulder the brunt of the rapidly changing business environment while trying to project a demeanor of calm and decisive leadership.

It’s no wonder that nearly a quarter of CEOs report experiencing feelings of burnout daily or frequently in Q2 2025, with a whopping 44 percent stating they occasionally feel the pressure. In open-ended responses about the causes of burnout, CEOs cited overwork, lack of delegation, long hours, and working “in” the business rather than “on” it. Many say they are being stretched thin due to insufficient support from their leadership teams or being responsible for too many roles.

Some choose to bury their stress and move on, but many more are taking proactive steps to condition their body and mind to deal with the volatility and uncertainty of 2025 and beyond. Here are five of their essential resilience training tactics.

1. Physical activity  

Nearly 73 percent of CEOs prioritize regular physical activity, which is known to relieve stress, especially during times of uncertainty. However, while 83 percent agree that movement plays a meaningful role in improving their patience, mood, and decision making, 50 percent find that their schedule often interferes with their ability to exercise. CEOs must be willing to protect their calendars to ensure physical fitness is non-negotiable.

2. Preventative medical care

Proactive health measures are key to maintaining optimal health, with 71 percent of CEOs saying they proactively address minor health concerns before they become significant issues. Additionally, 81 percent report staying current with preventive health measures, including annual physicals, blood work, and screenings.

3. Diet and nutrition 

Sixty-four percent of CEOs say vitamins are a key part of their preventive health routine.

4. Mental health  

Mental health is a priority for CEOs. It’s just about finding what fits best into their schedules consistently. Forty-two percent of CEOs intentionally build time into their schedules to mentally recharge. Some report engaging in spiritual practices (daily prayer, attending mass), while others highlight cognitive recovery, therapy, or meditation. These practices help them find a sense of groundedness, especially in moments of rapid change and uncertainty.

5. Sleep and recovery  

While 40 percent say they struggle to get the right amount of sleep, leaders widely emphasized the importance of adequate sleep and structured rest. Many CEOs are using sleep technology (e.g., Chilipad, Oura, trackers), while others rely on recovery tools (e.g., massage, sauna, cold plunge) or dedicated time to disconnect.

The business landscape is unlikely to become more predictable anytime soon. Airline flight attendants have long emphasized the importance of securing one’s own oxygen mask before assisting others. For CEOs, this means prioritizing their mental, physical, and emotional well-being to ensure they are ready to lead their business—and their people—through perpetual uncertainty.

This post originally appeared at inc.com.