Published in: Expansión – May 31, 2025
By Montse Mateos
“Unlearning and relearning are the keys to the future we’re already living”
Simon Dolan, one of the world’s leading experts in people management and president of the Global Future of Work Foundation, speaks plainly:
“We are in a world of transformation. There is no going back.”
Smiling and grounded, Dolan has coached thousands of professionals and advised organizations in reshaping their culture.
The phrase “Thank God it’s Friday” is, to him, a warning sign.
“True leadership means getting people to say: Thank God it’s Monday – because they are excited about their projects, their team, and their leader.”
🌍 A world with no return
Dolan draws a line between change and transformation:
- Change can be reversed.
- Transformation cannot.
“You can move your phone and put it back. But can you imagine life today without your phone?”
The three forces transforming our world:
- Technology
- Globalization
- The need to constantly create and recreate
🧭 How do we prepare?
“We need an internal compass (our values), and an external one (our direction). Trust is the value of values – but it must be measurable.”
To adapt, you must step out of your comfort zone, take risks, and tolerate failure.
“If the pendulum moves slowly, you take few risks. You don’t break paradigms. You must swing it boldly.”
💡 Culture, leadership and seduction
Each organization has its own culture and story. But some principles apply:
- Build a culture open to failure and innovation
- Communicate the why, what, how, and outcomes
- Apply seduction as a management strategy – to attract employees, clients, even competitors
🔥 Facing dismissals with responsibility
“The way you fire someone impacts those who stay. If handled poorly, top talent leaves – and the mediocre remain.”
He calls it the “survivor syndrome”.
The key: clarity, dialogue, and respect.
🚀 Recruiting for a shifting world
“Hire people who do good work – and who are able to switch roles, learn, and unlearn.”
Unlearning is crucial:
- It means breaking habits
- It’s scary – but necessary
“Most people don’t change unless a crisis forces them to.”
💬 The power of coaching
“I’ve learned that there’s a way to touch people’s souls. When you do, they truly listen – and are ready to change.”
🎼 Life, purpose, and storytelling
Simon Dolan (Israel, 1947), calls himself a “Jewish Palestinian.”
He has lived in Canada, the U.S., France, and now Barcelona with his wife Adela, a former ballerina. Author of 80+ books and 40+ academic articles in HR and work transformation… he now writes children’s stories.
“Some people criticize me. They say: here’s another old professor writing for kids. I don’t care. Stories are the most powerful way to teach values.”
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