What's The Buzz? 5 Unusual Strategies for Leveraging The Tech Hype Cycle As a General Manager
Welcome, general managers and anyone else who found themselves here due to a mis-click or sheer curiosity. Let's talk about the tech hype cycle. Yes, I know, you usually leave that to your IT team. But, as a general manager, understanding and leveraging these tech trends can position your company as a front-runner in the industry. It can also make your dinner party conversations way more interesting, especially if you drop in a few tech buzzwords.
1. Anticipate the Tech-Tide
Stay proactive. Follow the likes of Gartner's Hype Cycle to anticipate trends.1 If the tech is still in its 'Innovation Trigger' phase, you'll want to be the cool kid who had the latest iPhone before everyone and their grandma had one.
2. Play the Long Tech Game
Yes, we all love shiny new gadgets. But keep in mind, like a new puppy, they all poop on your carpet at first. Early adoption has its drawbacks, so sometimes patience can be a virtue.
3. Disrupt, But Responsibly
Remember when Uber disrupted the taxi industry, then they themselves got disrupted with a stack of lawsuits?2 That's a classic example of how disruption without proper regulatory foresight can backfire. Don't be that general manager.
4. Tech Is Not Always The Revolution
Real talk – tech is not always the answer. Sometimes, the hype sells the technology, not the solution it provides. So, always question – are you buying the iPhone because you genuinely need its features, or because you want to show off at parties?
5. Learn To Read The Hype
Lastly, the most important skill to have as a Pisces (or a general manager, for this context): learn to swim through the tech hype. Be critical. But also remember, the hype can be your friend if you dance with it, and not against it.
References
1. Gartner (2019). The Gartner Hype Cycle.
2. Isaac, M. (2017). Uber's Ceo Plays With Fire. New York Times.
