From Hierarchies to Platforms
An Interview with Dr. Alison Walling Perman
With Interviewer Janine Schindler
Introduction
The knowledge economy, Gig economy, and proliferation of network and platform businesses are driving rapid changes in the marketplace. Coaches, consultants and other elite service providers must keep up with or get ahead of the change curve to thrive (or survive).
How did we get to where we are today?
When we say ‘Business Model,’ we are referring to the structure and activities that impact how the business creates and delivers value in the marketplace—essentially, the what and how of value creation and profit for a business. Starting with the Industrial Era, business models have largely been driven by supply side optimization. Command and control is the mantra for these business models.
However, history is revealing to us that being a market giant with a strong track record of stability, profitability, and even monopolization is no longer enough. Platform businesses have fundamentally changed the landscape. Apple found a way to serve both the app developers and the Apple users, thus creating high value exchanges on both sides.
What does today’s landscape look like for coaching?
Although AI can’t coach yet, it is starting to consult with data analysis skills. Coaching is a service much better suited for platforms than pipelines. Coaches and clients work together in a high value, two-way interactive exchange of information and skills. Coaches have the opportunity to add value across many sites in a business value chain.
How do we prepare ourselves to be successful today?
Elite coaches and consultants need to be proactively seeking to learn about the evolution of business models and help their clients learn and adapt to this change. Focus on the areas that machines most likely won’t be able to replicate in the immediate short term: creativity, motivating people, and managing people. In an individualistic culture, start practicing interdependence. Develop your learning agility.
The response to AI and platform disruption is key and will either result in sinking or swimming. Will coaches embrace the change and become agile with curiosity and innovation, or will they dig their heels into the ground? The choice is ours.