The role of people in the digital transformation
Mental strength shapes people's personal potential - The digital transformation supports them in this Michael von Kunhardt, mental expert and founder of the von Kunhardt Academy
Published in: DiALOG - THE MAGAZINE FOR DIGITAL CHANGE | 2021
When everything is digitalised and depersonalised, when more and more decisions and processes are automated - where will I find myself as a human being? How do I manage to develop my own personality and work out my strengths in the face of unchecked development in the areas of technology, digitalisation and a reality that is increasingly determined by apps, trackers and virtual life?
The answer is as simple as it is beautiful: through mental strength. The digital transformation is merely a vehicle, a tool that accompanies, supports and, in the best case, makes our lives easier. Digital transformation is therefore a welcome add-on for us, the people, who - each in our own right - have unique potential to offer.
At a time when digitalisation is being integrated into almost every area of our lives - from shopping and dealing with the authorities to finding a job and a partner - it is particularly important that we consciously focus on ourselves. To do this, it is important to clearly define and realise the importance of self-awareness as a prerequisite for self-confidence, self-image and self-worth.
What does that mean?
In my book "Mental giants - what true strength really is", I dedicate an entire chapter to this topic, because ultimately every personal success, whether in sport, private life or business, starts with defining yourself. Many outstanding personalities - from Muhammad Ali to Steven Jobs and Elon Musk - have implemented this principle extraordinarily consistently and particularly effectively.
In order to trust yourself, you first need to know what you can and cannot do. Simple and effective questions can help with this:
"What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses, potentials and needs?"
Mental strength cannot be achieved digitally.
Once self-confidence has been clarified in this way, the way is clear to sharpen your own self-image by answering the following questions:
What do you get up for in the morning?
What is your mission?
What values are important to you?
What benefit do you want to create?
What is particularly important to you personally?
In this way, everyone can realise their own personal self-image in life. In combination with the previously sharpened self-awareness, self-confidence grows at the same time.
The result of this very personal development and identity-forming transformation is a strong self-esteem that each of us has a right to.
In order to develop reflective and authentic communication at home, in sport or at work, this chain of results is of fundamental importance:
Self-awareness, self-confidence, self-image, self-worth.
So what role does digital transformation play here? As I wrote at the beginning, it can support your own perception in a natural and excellent way.
One example: In sport, apps, digital training plans and differentiated evaluations of nutrition and results logs help to analyse an athlete's performance down to the smallest detail and optimise it in the next step. However, the physical performance on the football pitch, on the running track or on the green has to be achieved by the athletes themselves - and in addition to talent, endurance and diligence in training, self-confidence and the self-esteem with which an athlete or even an entire team enters a competition are also crucial.
Mental strength cannot be achieved digitally: It comes from self-reflection and the will to work on yourself personally and take responsibility for achieving your own goals.
The same applies to the business world: of course, margins can also be calculated, sales strategies calculated and specified and the results analysed. But ultimately it is always a person, with their very own personality, strengths and potential, who is behind every action.
Only those who go into a negotiation, a sales pitch or the planning of a start-up company with self-reflection and self-awareness will achieve the level of success they believe themselves capable of.
Especially against the backdrop of the enormous and diverse opportunities that the digital transformation holds for our lives, self-confidence and mental strength are now more than ever a decisive criterion for developing an active winning mentality. Those who are aware of their strengths and goals, visualise them and work with effective mental methods to skilfully develop their own personality will integrate the digital transformation into their lives in an appropriate, suitable and positively effective way and use it as a tool to be successful in sport, at work or in their private lives.
Michael von Kunhardt has been combining business and sport in a unique way for decades. He is a TV mental expert and mental coach for professional athletes, national teams and Olympic champions. He inspires as a speaker for companies and associations with fascinating analogies between sport and business. He mobilises and develops personalities and teams in business, competitive and top-class sport as well as individuals on their way to exploiting their potential and achieving their goals. Michael von Kunhardt has been one of the top 100 speakers at Speakers Excellence for many years and is the successful author of his book "Mental Giants", among others. He is also the founder of the von Kunhardt Academy. www.vonkunhardt.de