Here's how you can stay abreast of the latest technological trends in your industry.

Participating in internet discussion boards is an exciting method to keep up with new developments in technology. Professionals using these platforms exchange ideas, knowledge, and forecasts, creating a wealth of up-to-date information. You may learn collaboratively, ask questions, and give advise by taking part. This engagement helps you stay on top of technology developments and adds useful, up-to-date knowledge to your consulting practice.

Content is the most powerful tool on the internet, especially with the 30s / 60s short video format, grabbing new information is now easier than ever before. Subscribing or liking or engaging with people/pages that regularly put out content on the latest tech trends across platforms - LinkedIn, Instagram, X, Threads, Facebook etc. will really come in handy. Once you show your interest in these pages and profiles, the algorithm will just do its magic then :) it will only throw relevant posts to your feed. The best part about this is, that you are learning something new or staying updated without consciously putting effort into it. Hence it becomes a part of our routine and internet hours.

One thing I’ve found helpful is an endless hungry to learn. Once you keep learning, getting new certifications and get expose to the “new” you will be always ahead of everyone. The best things will be out of your comfort zone.

Provided you can find a vibrant and engaging forum, they can provide topical and diverse perspectives from peers within your profession. A forum can facilitate community interaction, problem-solving, and resource sharing, offering practical insights and up-to-date knowledge. However, a word of caution, as with any online community, you will have your trolls and always verify information with other reliable sources to ensure accuracy.

Trade shows tend be the place to see, and talk to, new technology vendors in our industry. If your key software vendors have trade shows or user conferences, they're likely to have a vendor area.

Webinars can be a useful way to stay informed about the latest technological trends in your industry however it is worth bearing in mind that webinars, like LinkedIn, are platforms for organisations and individuals to promote themselves. They do provide access to expert insights and viewpoints on current developments and emerging technologies. Webinars often feature industry leaders, offer opportunities for live interaction and Q&A sessions, and can be conveniently attended from anywhere. Additionally, they often include demonstrations, case studies, and practical applications of new technologies to back up the claims.

In my experience, attending webinars and industry events has been invaluable for staying current with technological trends. These sessions, often led by experts, offer deep insights and practical demonstrations of the latest innovations. Moreover, the networking opportunities they provide are unmatched, allowing for collaboration and knowledge sharing with peers and thought leaders. Engaging in these events not only enhances your understanding but also positions you at the forefront of industry advancements.

IT companies, specialist communities, consultants or universities help a lot of webinars and presentations. Some free, others behind a paywall. But with some research in the internet and free documentation it’s possible to learn the new technology.

Webinars, Events, and Podcasts are all great ways to keep connected with latest trends. In my experience Podcasts have been a great source of information and provides you differing perspectives on many issues in a healthy and intellectually stimulating manner.

The opportunity to hear from and interact with industry leaders is one of the most valuable aspects of these events. Their expertise and perspectives can offer new ways of thinking and solutions to common challenges. Regularly attending these events helps me stay current with the latest developments and innovations in the industry.

Continuous learning is a basic attitude in the IT. To be curious, ability and fun to learn is also needed. But the truth is only 4% of the people want change. To be in a curious community is one chance to learn new abilities. Also to be part of the office of the CIO or near to the IT CTO or as part in an innovation department bring the chance to be top tec oriented. The hard truth is that a new IT technology in an controlled environment works perhaps well. But in the hard data center environment is an difficult task. And it’s not very helpful to have every new technology in your productive environment.

Continuous education is a main difference between a specialist with great potential to grow and just a good specialist. By constant learning you not only really get new knowledge but also you train uour brain to be young and flexible and you wide up your area of perception. Very often specialists, who always try to learn something new , may look at the dame situation differently and may offer a non standard solution. So always give possibilities to learn to yourself and to you employees

Learn. Fail. Learn again. Rinse and repeat. The only way to stay relevant in your industry is you never stop being curious. You never ever stop learning. The day you stop, you start losing the game. I wrote a blog post “How to stay relevant in your own industry” in my blog way back in November 2015. Follow me or leave me a comment under one of my LinkedIn posts if you want a link to that article.

In the fast-paced world of technology, staying informed on the latest trends is crucial. A few years ago, I realized that social media and occasional news articles weren't enough. I had started to watch some tech related videos on YouTube and it completely fascinated me. It made me want to dive deeper. So I subscribed to several well-respected industry publications, and it has been a game-changer. Not only has it enabled me to give my clients some terrific insight that has tremendously boosted their businesses, but it also led me to start working an ai venture that will help a lot of people in regards to bridging the unemployment gap. Subscribing to industry publications will be one of the best things you can do for your business/career.

I think subscribing to the specific industry publications in your chosen niche is one of the best ways to keep across the new and emerging technologies that relate to your client base. This also supports you to gain the most of your research time.

In my IBM past more than 20 years ago, I authored and co-authored about 7 publications. Whilst it was a great opportunity for my personal development and for achieving clarity of thinking on the topics I wrote publications about, this had little to no impact on my consulting directly. In contrast, posting on social media, building my LinkedIn audience, getting readers to my blog, growing community on my Youtube channel gave me the gravitas, reference, authority. Do the books/publications for yourself. Build a community for your blog, email, social media platforms to grow your consulting business.

Staying ahead in your industry means keeping up with the latest tech trends. 🚀 Subscribing to industry publications is a smart move. Magazines, journals, and online articles often feature expert analysis and case studies on cutting-edge technologies. 📚 Regular reading ensures you don't miss out on developments that could impact your consultancy work. Plus, they're great for backing your recommendations with solid examples. #TechTrends #IndustryInsights #valanticace

S’abonner aux newsletters du monde de l’industrie est primordial pour apprendre et bien comprendre l’évolution des marchés qui nous concernent.

Joining networking groups, both online and offline, offers invaluable insights and opportunities. These groups bring together individuals with a shared interest in technology and its industry applications. By engaging in these communities, you gain access to new tools, platforms, and methodologies that others have successfully utilized. Networking also facilitates partnerships and mentorship opportunities, deepening your understanding of technological trends and enhancing your professional growth. Such interactions can keep you at the forefront of industry developments and expand your professional network.

It would be a priority to attend foresight networking groups, the ones capable enough to exchange ideas on extrapolating the assumptions on weak signals and black swans as well. This way we can better translate the technology trends' hidden aspects in the industry.

With networking groups, you have the opportunity to connect with industry professionals, share insights, and discuss emerging trends. Networking groups often host events, meetings, and discussions that feature expert speakers and presentations on industry developments. Most importantly, you can discuss real world applications of technology and access existing implementations. Additionally, the relationships built within these groups can lead to collaborative opportunities and access to insider information that may not be readily available through other channels.

How to use LinkedIn to build an "Ultimate Consulting Tech Stack": (I've consulted for 20 years as a technologist) 1. Stop following influencers and gurus. Your feed on social platforms is an echo chamber. Unless someone has built and scaled a business like yours, don't give them your attention. 2. Replace them with industry voices for top tools and ecosystems. Look for people who are experts on specific tools (e.g., Clay and ChatGPT) or skills (e.g., sales and offers). 3. Keep it simple and streamlined. You don't need 27 tools. I scaled to $5M ARR as a consultant with a streamlined, simple tech stack. Don't stress about the tools; focus on the strategies and the systems to get fast ROI.

Staying ahead in tech? It's all about smart networking! 🚀💡 Social media isn't just for connections—it's your tech trend radar. Follow tech leaders and innovators, use industry-specific hashtags, and get instant updates on the latest and greatest. Platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram offer quick insights into new tech and expert opinions. Curate your feed with relevant tech news sources for effortless updates. #TechTrends #Innovation #valanticace

Great example is how LinkedIn managed to transform from a CV only platform to a robust network building. A great and sincere network help us grow together.

You must keep up with the technological advancements, with an open mind. Interacting with persons who are experts and learning from their experiences is key. Ask questions on events, conferences, workshops and courses and make sure you engage in these actively to the end. Learn, practice and relearn. No one knows it all , but a teachable person, will certainly acquire knowledge and skills, necessary in a world as advanced as ours.

Remember to play. The first approach to learning we ever had was through play. Approach new technologies in the same manner you would a video game or puzzle. It is not there to create frustration but to engage your way of thinking!

Learning never stops, even during everyday work. Keep an open mind and actively listen to interactions and meetings you have during the day where a lot of knowledge can be obtained on technologies and innovations used and leveraged. Also actively learn from courses and publications available with customers your are working on assignment, there's lots to learn from internal improvement programs a customer is working on using new technologies. And last but not least, often new innovative platforms allow you to setup / register for a demo instance. Use these offerings to deepen your knowledge on technology by playing around and simulate real-life customer challenges, it works great!

Remember to ask questions and speak to those around you! Your colleagues might have a fresh perspective that you hadn't thought of or the barista that makes your coffee may be studying something related to what your working on. We live in such a technologically connected world that sometimes we forget that the best pieces of insight come from those sitting right next to us!

Make sure that you allocate time each week to undertaking research on the new and emerging trends in your chosen niche. This will ensure that you remain at the cutting edge of your market sector and you’ll be considered a thought leader and relevant.