The world is turning faster and faster. Digitalization and the rise of AI are bringing immense acceleration with them. This is not only a challenge, but also a huge opportunity for your SME. But how do you stay agile, efficient and, above all, human?

It's not about burying your head in the sand or going along with every hype. It's about taking a strategic approach. And two things are crucial for this: a management culture that really drives your SME forward and the smart use of AI that strengthens your teams.

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The true hardness of "soft" factors: Why clarity is more important than "being nice"

Some time ago, I advised a company that seemed perfect at first glance. They were agile, self-organized and focused on mindfulness. Meetings were collaborative and felt safe. You could say that this was psychological safety in action.

But appearances were deceptive. Behind the scenes, projects were piling up, customer appointments were being missed and frustration was building up. The problem? Their idea of "psychological safety" had become a stumbling block. The focus on harmony and "being nice" meant that difficult conversations were avoided. Clear decisions, which the business urgently needed, were not made.

Teams had all the agile rituals, but no real clarity. They had a lot of autonomy, but no clear direction. A customer told me at the time: the process had become more important than progress. People were struggling with structures that didn't deliver results.

The lesson is clear: psychological safety is not a "soft" HR task that can be ticked off with beanbags and "fun workshops". It is a tough business discipline. It demands:

• The Courageto question ideas - no matter where they come from.

• The Clarityto make decisions and make commitments - even with incomplete information.

• The Disciplineto hold people accountable for results - not just efforts.

Psychological safety does not mean that there are no conflicts. They means that there is enough trust to resolve conflicts, tell the truth and then move forward more quickly together. This company had to unlearn "being nice" and learn clarity. That has changed everything.

AI as your efficiency booster: concrete examples that work immediately

AI is no longer a concept for the future. It is here and can strengthen your SME immediately. Imagine you could Completely onboard new employees in less than two hours - without your experienced people having to spend time on it.

This is exactly what we did for a customer by developing a customized AI onboarding agents have developed. This agent, powered by OpenAI's new reasoning models, is more than a simple chatbot. It has Access to the company's knowledge base and maintains a personalized dialogue with each new employee.

The concrete benefit:

• Your experienced employees gain back time: Hours that they would otherwise have spent answering the same questions over and over again.

• New employees are productive more quickly: You will receive immediate answers and all the information you need without having to wait for anyone.

• Knowledge is centralized: Your valuable company knowledge is always available and not just tied up in the heads of individual employees.

This type of intelligent automation is tangible and accessible. It proves that AI does not replace people, but makes human work more productive and more targeted. It's about seeing AI as a "team player" that takes over repetitive and time-consuming tasks so that your employees can focus on the essentials: Communication, problem solving and innovation.

Your resilience compass: navigating calmly in turbulent times

The acceleration of digitalization and AI also brings with it an increase in complexity and small challenges. It is often not the major crises that cause us problems, but the Accumulation of small problems - the so-called "Cluster effect". Harmless on their own, together they can sap the focus, energy and motivation of your team and yourself.

But you can learn to counteract this. It's about becoming a "Endurance mindset" an attitude that makes you resilient. Your mindset is your compass in this chaos. It is based on 10 principles that strengthen you both in business and in everyday life:

1. Clear goal: Your "True North" is your compass in stormy times.

2. Passion for processes: Success comes from disciplined, daily action.

3. Love details: Excellence in execution prevents crises.

4. Visualize the solution: Imagine success - that will get you there.

5. Pain as a signal: Use pressure as an opportunity to learn and grow.

6. Control reactions: Calmness is the basis for emotional stability.

7. Mastering inner dialog: Your positive self-talk is your inner source of strength.

8. Proceed strategically: Manage your energy cleverly for the long journey.

9. Plan your recovery: Conscious breaks make you stronger.

10. Gratitude: It is the antidote to stress and negativity.

It's not about being unbreakable. It's about having a mental compass to navigate any storm. One decision at a time.

Register now: AI Café on September 10 in Schaan!

After the summer break, the KI-Café with specific SME topics! We cordially invite you to an event that will give you practical impetus for digitalization and present exciting examples of digitalization from SMEs in the Liechtenstein and Eastern Switzerland region.

What you can expect:

• Presentation of the new digitization guide: Developed by the KMU-HSG and MMIND.

• Exciting practical application examples: SMEs for SMEs present their digitalization and AI projects, including b_smart, sl.one, CSL Corporate Services, HSW AG Reinigung und Facility Service, and CFP Business Consulting.

• Aperitif and exchange of experiences: Make valuable contacts and exchange ideas with like-minded people and experts.

Why you should be there:

• Gain practical insights and concrete examples of AI and digitalization directly from SMEs.

• Learn how you can use the new digitalization guide for your company.

• Find inspiration and solutions for your own digitalization issues.

When: Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 4:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Where: RUUF, Duxgass 55, 9494 Schaan

Costs: Free of charge

Organizer: MMIND in cooperation with the KMU-HSG

Get in touch right away here free of charge and mark the date in your calendar.

P.S. Would you like to have the most important findings at a glance? In the following PDF you will find a compact summary of the key points of this newsletter: