David Stark Collective

In this episode, David explores how an organization can find its digital sweet spot. Starting with the four classic market disciplines of Product Leadership, Service Leadership, Operational Excellence, and Customer Intimacy, David looks at what these categories mean when applied to digital capabilities, and whether these still stand as valid ways of looking at approaches to market in a digital and physical world.

What do all great digital organizations have in common? At least the six traits we discuss in this episode.

You can’t swing a dead cat without overhearing a boardroom conversation about “digital transformation”. And for good reason. Digital is a great way to tell stories of your products and services to customers, a way to deliver utiliity and improve the customer service, and it’s a way to become more organizationally efficient in delivering value. In this episode, David and Justin discuss the definition of “digital” as well as introduce the primary topics associated with digital transformation.

It seems appropriate to begin a new series at the beginning of a new year. In this episode, David and Justin introduce a new series named “Purpose, trends, disruptions, frontiers, and hacks”.

It used to be the case that your college or vocational degree set you up with the knowledge and skills you needed for the rest of your career. That couldn’t be further from the truth today. In this episode, David and Justin discuss the transition from a degree to lifelong learning.

It wasn’t so long ago that we were able to compartmentalize the various aspects of our life: work, home, church, community, etc. Now everything is connected and bleeds together. In this episode, David and Justin discuss the various types of stress presented to our different “selves” in this interconnected age.

In this episode, David and Justin interview Minneapolis entrepreneur, Tara Meyers. They dive into topics including rest, leadership, expectations, purpose, and how it’s more about performance than just presence.

Why do technologies that promised to help us work less, actually pressure us to work more? In this episode, David and Justin tackle the transition from “5-day-a-week” work to being “always on”.

Today’s professional environment requires more than just your human gifts & talents; it takes smart augmentation with software. In this second of two episodes, David and Justin discuss the role of software mediation from the perspective of leadership.

Today’s professional environment requires more than just your human gifts & talents; it takes smart augmentation with software. In this first of two episodes, David and Justin discuss the role of software mediation in our day-to-day professional lives.

Ever had that sinking feeling that you’re efficiently working on something that doesn’t matter. Or maybe you’ve noticed that five other coworkers are working on the same thing that you are. If so, you may be living in the nightmare that is a rigid organization structure. It’s time to get agile!

The new hotness in business models is that of a platform. What is a platform and how is it different than the “pipeline” business model of the past? In this episode, David and Justin discuss platforms from all angles and provide pragmatic tips for leaders to consider in this exciting and daunting transition.

The digital revolution changes many things about business; one of the most profound changes is the transition from merely interacting with other stakeholders to being truly interconnected. In this episode, David and Justin talk about four aspects of this transition and helpful tips for leaders.

It seems like just yesterday it was possible to have something SO UNIQUE that customers clamored to you and away from your competition. While it’s still possible, the likely reality your organization is facing today is one of temporary advantage and hyper competition. In today’s episode, David and Justin discuss how organizations can compete and win if they think in terms of delivering a capability “system” instead of just relying on their old “secret sauce”.

Books smarts used to rule the corporate world – being the “smartest guy/gal in the room” lead to success. In an interconnected and fast-changing world those rules have changed. In this episode, David and Justin discuss the transition from IQ (cognitive intelligence) to SQ (social intelligence) and the implications to leaders today.

When you look at your firm’s P&L, how many bottom lines do you see? One, right? In this episode, David and Justin discuss the transition toward multiple bottom lines and the impact that has on businesses, employees, the environment, and more.

We’re transitioning from a world of “walled garden” organizations to those that are open to their environment. In this episode, David and Justin discuss that while this comes with tremendous advantages in innovation and growth, it also comes with security risks from outside threats.

Is the “mad scientist in the cave” still the best way to create innovative products and services? (was it ever?) In this episode, Justin and David talk about the transition from R&D specialists to Minimal Viable Products (MVPs) in a connected world.

Is your organization’s structure sucking the life out of you as well as your business? In this episode, David and Justin discuss the transition from hierarchy to more holistic organizational structures and how the metaphor of the human body can help you, as a leader, optimize your potential.

Ever been stressed out due to all the change in your personal and professional life? Us, too. We’re starting a new series called “Transitions” where we describe the major transitions happening in business and how the metaphor of the body provides guidance on how to deal with transitions in a positive and impactful way. In this episode, David and Justin introduce the series and lay some groundwork on what’s to come in future episodes.