Page 102 - The Fourth Industrial Revolution

revolution, where collaborative innovation is at the core. This process can

only take place if it is nurtured in an environment of trust because there are
so many different constituents and issues involved. Ultimately, all
stakeholders have a role in ensuring that innovation is directed to the
common good. If any major group of stakeholders feels that this is not the

case, trust will be eroded.

In a world where nothing is constant anymore, trust becomes one of the most

valuable attributes. Trust can only be earned and maintained if decision
makers are embedded within a community, and taking decisions always in
the common interest and not in pursuit of individual objectives.

Physical intelligence – the body

Contextual, emotional and inspired intelligence are all essential attributes
for coping with, and benefitting from, the fourth industrial revolution. They

will, however, require the vital support of a fourth form of intelligence – the
physical one, which involves supporting and nourishing personal health and
well-being. This is critical because as the pace of change accelerates, as

complexity increases, and as the number of players involved in our
decision-making processes increases, the need to keep fit and remain calm
under pressure becomes all the more essential.

Epigenetics, a field of biology that has flourished in recent years, is the
process through which the environment modifies the expression of our
genes. It shows incontrovertibly the critical importance of sleep, nutrition
and exercise in our lives. Regular exercise, for example, has a positive

impact on the way we think and feel. It directly affects our performance at
work and ultimately, our ability to succeed.

Understanding and grasping new ways of keeping our physical bodies in
harmony with our mind, our emotions, and the world at-large is incredibly
important, and we are learning more about this through the incredible

advances being made in numerous areas, including medical sciences,
wearable devices, implantable technologies and brain research. In addition,
I often say that a leader requires “good nerves” to address effectively the
many simultaneous and complex challenges that we are facing. This will be

increasingly critical in order to navigate and harness the opportunities of the
fourth industrial revolution.

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