Why the Best Companies Listen Before They Innovate with William T. J. Kerr

In this episode of Leaders of the Workplace of Tomorrow, Host Steve Miksta sits down with William T. J. Kerr, President and Managing Principal at William Kerr and Associates, to discuss his path from auto racing, music, and theater into consulting. They explore bottom-up problem solving, the difference between symptoms and root causes, and how organizations can approach AI as an aid to human judgment and execution.William draws on experiences in racing, entertainment, and business to explain why consultants should listen to the people closest to the work. He emphasizes role performance, coaching through problem-solving, and helping organizations work with existing systems and people rather than expecting change to happen instantly.Key TakeawaysStart with the people closest to the work to identify operational problems that leadership may not see.Look beyond “safe problems” to find the underlying causes creating recurring symptoms.Treat consulting as research and advice, not as doing a manager’s job for them.Invite employee input and acknowledge good ideas to build participation in solutions.Use AI to expand options and support judgment, while keeping humans responsible for the final choice.Help people learn new tools gradually by reducing fear and connecting technology to practical work.Episode Timestamps[00:00] - Teaser[01:25] - From go-karting and drag racing to music and theater[03:00] - How referrals drive his consulting work[04:29] - Why employees become disconnected from organisations[08:22] -Why consulting starts with frontline employees[11:28] - Finding the real problem behind “safe problems”[15:13] - AI adoption and the productivity gap[19:49] - Fear, learning, and workplace adoption of technology[24:11] - Why you should learn to work right, not chase passion[29:08] - How technology can increase speed while slowing productivity[34:41] - When technology becomes invisible[36:44] - Where to contact William KerrDisclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review.🔗 Connect with the Guest William T. J. Kerr and His Company:👉 Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wmkerr/👉 Email: [email protected]👉 Company Website: https://williamkerrandassociates.com/about-me-business/👉 Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/william-kerr-and-associates/🔗Follow the podcast:👉Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033rjH7T2gSv9KyUs4uC4x?si=db0aed8e99f84fc8👉Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-of-the-workplace-of-tomorrow/id1896864216👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@opptyunlimited9222🔗 Connect with the Host Steve Miksta:👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevemiksta/🔗 Connect with the Host Company, Oppty Unlimited:👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/opptyunlimited/👉 Website: https://www.opptyunlimited.com/