In their most recent episode of the PIE-Cast, TJ and Aubrey connected with Dave Bayless, Co-Founder of Human Scale Business, and long-time partner of PIE, to discuss how professional services firms and entrepreneurs alike can find the right balance of human touch and technology innovation in the way they connect with their clients and prospects. They touched on importance of face-to-face conversations in fostering innovation, the role of technology in facilitating these interactions, and the challenges of process improvement in businesses, emphasizing the need to focus on enhancing work quality rather than just efficiency. The conversation also touched upon the potential of no-code tools and generative AI, and their applications in business. 

When discussing the value of face-to-face conversations, Dave emphasized their importance in entrepreneurial and innovation communities, while also acknowledging that virtual connections play a critical role in progressing relationships. The emergence of virtual connection technologies, such as Zoom and Teams, has enabled the continuance of conversations spawned through in-person connection. Dave noted that a balance of both types of connection, knowing when to deploy one or the other, and bringing intentionality to every interaction are key elements of maximizing connection. Aubrey contributed her own experiences as a barista, noting the organic interactions that occur in coffee shops. The discussion concluded with Dave emphasizing the value of cultivating serendipity, or in other words, bringing an intentional approach to organic connections.  

Aubrey and TJ also parlayed the conversation into the emergence of new technologies, specifically generative AI, and how these technologies might impact business processes. Dave outlined that, while generative AI may expedite the process of creating a bad first draft, the human element of content creation is essential as it provides the proper context and framing to make it meaningful. One key point Dave mentioned was what he termed the “time-saving paradox,” in which process improvements shift time, rather than saving it. Consequently, he highlighted that it is imperative businesses focus on improving work quality rather than simply driving toward more and more efficiency.  

If you’d like to listen to the full episode, you can find it on Spotify here, or listen on your favorite podcast streaming app.