How LinkedIn replaced the long lunch

Read time: 4 mins

Hi Reader

As 2023 winds to a close, it’s a time to reflect not only on the year gone by but also on the trends and ideas shaping our future. This week, we dive into the changing landscape of networking, explore the staggering cost of disengaged employees and uncover game-changing innovations in AI – from micro-factories to automated sales reps. Whether you’re here for the latest in business trends, actionable advice or a touch of inspiration for the year ahead, there’s plenty to dig into.

Enjoy!

Pickleball over Pinot: the new rules of business networking

The death knell for the long business lunch has been sounded many times but The Wall Street Journal makes a compelling case for its imminent demise in this engaging piece. Connections forged through LinkedIn and then built via “group workout sessions and pickleball tournaments” have replaced corporate entertaining among ambitious Gen Zs, it claims.

AI is now sustainable. Sort of.

At this year’s G20 Summit, all countries (except Argentina) endorsed AI as a sustainable development tool. The declaration emphasises transparency, ethics and human-centricity. It’ll be Interesting to see how that is judged alongside the eco-impact of energy-guzzling LLMs. Elsewhere, Meta has announced a tool for evaluating the accuracy of other AI tools with no human labelling required. Robots checking the homework of other robots, in other words.

Your community manager probably deserves a raise

Brand and professional communities where people come together around a shared interest or goal are indisputably a good thing. But many are characterised by toxic behaviour, from harassment to hate speech, trolling and doxing. This means community management and moderation is critical and, happily, it seems that it’s an easier task in the professional environment of B2B communities compared to B2C. In this report, HBR shares research-backed strategies for community managers, including empowering users to manage interactions and leveraging AI to detect toxic content.

Why every business owner should be making videos

Over on LinkedIn, this study outlined in Search Engine Journal finds that video posts on the platform are a must as they generate 3x more reach than traditional text posts. Further engagement optimisation comes from keeping them under five minutes, posting them in the morning and using a direct-to-camera approach. I’ve been testing direct-to-camera videos on my LinkedIn channel through late 2024 and it’s been pretty successful. I’d encourage other business owners to trial it too – you might be surprised by the results.

Accenture’s Life Trends 2024: what’s next for people and business?

This useful report explores how shifts in human behaviour are reshaping businesses and creating opportunities for growth. Among the key takeaways: businesses are entering a "wellbeing economy," where prioritising mental and physical health for employees and customers is becoming a competitive advantage. The report also highlights the rise of “co-creation” as brands partner with customers to build products and experiences that resonate deeply. For entrepreneurs and leaders, it’s a fascinating dive into how understanding human motivations can unlock new paths to success. Explore the full report here.

Meet Alice, the automated SDR

The world of sales is getting a serious upgrade thanks to AI-powered tools like 11x.ai’s “Alice.” Designed to handle everything from lead qualification to follow-ups, she’s part of a new wave of AI Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) that promise to save time and scale personalised outreach. Backed by a fresh $50m Series B funding round, 11x.ai is leading the charge in transforming the sales process. Startups and scale-ups are already turning to Alice to build leaner, more efficient sales pipelines – automating the grind so human reps can focus on closing deals. If you want a deeper dive on 11x.ai’s journey, this interview with its founder is worth a look.

The $8.9tn problem: why employee engagement matters

Gallup’s latest report lays bare the staggering global cost of low employee engagement – $8.9tn annually, or 9% of global GDP. The insights are striking: loneliness among remote workers is on the rise, younger employees are reporting lower wellbeing and manager engagement plays a pivotal role in shaping team dynamics. With managers accounting for 70% of the variance in employee engagement, organisations that prioritise their leaders’ wellbeing see improvements in retention, customer service and profits. For businesses of all sizes, it’s clear that investing in engagement isn’t just good for employees – it’s a financial imperative. Get the full report here.

The era of the AI-driven micro factory

You may know him as one of the hard-nosed interviewers on The Apprentice, but Mike Soutar has a long and storied history of founding great businesses, from the Stylist and Shortlist publications (effectively launching the ‘freemium’ publishing model) to being one of the architects of the weekly lad’s mag revolution. Now an investor and portfolio director, I spotted an interesting post from him on LinkedIn about the rise of ‘micro-factories’ that are able to turn around short production run items very quickly, lowering the barriers to entry for ambitious customer-focused start-ups. It’s something I’ve noticed from friends who are musicians as they can now create bespoke vinyl and CDs for their fans, without the need to place big orders with pressing plants.

How to make profit while you sleep

Building a successful business is hard, but there are plenty of tried and tested ways to ensure your path to profit is made easier. Here are a few of my favourites. I’ll be doing a more in-depth dive into the secrets of seven figure businesses very soon, so keep an eye out for that.

Drop me a line

Thanks for diving into this week’s stories – I hope you found something to fuel your ideas. Got a trend, tip or insight that’s too good to keep to yourself? Send it my way as I’m always looking to uncover fresh angles and untold stories.
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Catch you next week for an end-of-year special where I reveal my take on the most useful 2025 trend reports.

Cheers!
Adam

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