Navigating And Redefining The Future Of Work
Izabela Lundberg, M.S.
Resilience, Result & ROI Momentum Champion • Strategic Advisor To Billion Dollar Brands • Top 40 Global Thought Leader • TEDx Speaker • #1 Best-Selling Author "From Fear To Greatness" • Forbes •🏆🎤🎬
The workplace is undergoing a profound metamorphosis, demanding organizations to adapt or risk obsolescence. Within this high-force change, we are seeing the convergence of societal, technological and economic forces.
Let's embark on a journey through these explosive shifts, illuminating the way forward for executives who must masterfully navigate this transformative landscape.
Specifically, let's zoom in on four shifts that are shaping the future of work:
Return To The Office
Companies are facing a rapid push to return to the office, with many now expecting employees to work in the office full-time or at least three days a week through the new hybrid working model.
It is astonishing to me to see employers demanding a return to the office full- or part-time on short notice—despite pushback from talent and skilled talent shortages that create more conflicts than resolutions.
But we have to listen to our talent and address their concerns and needs, as I voiced in a recent conversation with my company's executive leadership team.
As I have helped clients go through their transformational journey by shifting the dynamics of returning to the office, I've felt the importance of aligning this transition with their overarching organizational objectives and our team members' changing desires and needs.
Quiet Hiring
A year ago, we were at the tip of the iceberg, witnessing a trend of people quitting their jobs, followed by an unexpected twist—an emerging pattern of companies "quiet firing." This was followed by "quiet hiring," a practice of recruiting talent discreetly, without widely publicizing job openings.
Fast forward to today, and we find ourselves in a different landscape. Companies are aggressively pursuing top talent from their competitors, particularly in tech, a phenomenon validated by a recent Business Insider report that sheds light on what's truly happening behind the scenes.
The attractiveness of transitioning to this new working environment depends on several key factors.
Positive company culture, innovative solutions and retention incentives remain pivotal in retaining and attracting talent, as they were a year ago.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion And Belonging (DEI&B)
The discussion surrounding DEI in the workplace has seen a considerable surge over the past several years, with the concept of "belonging" recently emerging as an essential addition to this conversation.
Although belonging has always held significance, it has now taken center stage as organizations respond to growing demands from their workforce. Per Harvard Business Review, belonging should not be seen as just a buzzword; rather, it is the backbone of a thriving organization.
Drawing from my time teaching at the University of Denver in the early 2000s, I have seen firsthand the gaps in corporate DEI&B. My classes catered to diverse teams long before the push for diversity became mainstream.
They are about curating a fair, equitable, innovative, welcoming and forward-thinking working environment. Embracing DEI is more than a trend—it's an investment in the future, mirroring the rich tapestry of our diverse world.
Throughout my leadership journey, I have prioritized the principles of DEI&B in various tangible ways, ranging from talent acquisition and retention to fostering an inclusive workplace and continuous education and growth.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) And Innovation
Diving into the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and innovation, I recall the initial stirrings of curiosity as tech advancements reshaped our workspace. While AI might seem like a sudden wave that hit us, I've watched its steady ascent for years, sensing the undercurrents of the AI revolution.
Hand-in-hand with machine learning, I have witnessed AI streamline tasks in our workplace, refine decision-making and rapidly birth unprecedented products and services. Interacting with the first wave of AI chatbots that promised 24/7 customer engagement while the whispers of job redundancy grew louder, I have also seen the birth of new opportunities.
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Conclusion
In this evolving terrain of work, let's take a moment to reflect: Are we truly attuned to the insights of our colleagues and teammates?
Amid the challenges of returning to the office, the nuances of quiet hiring, our commitment to DEI&B and the boundless potential of AI, this inquiry points our way forward.
As stewards of this change, our mandate is clear: to venture into this new era sincerely intending to understand, respect and uplift our teams.
Does our workplace include spaces where every idea, however unconventional, finds an audience? Are our goals adjusting in tandem with our team's evolving aspirations?
Our answers to these introspections will be our beacon in this shifting world, carving out a future where every contributor feels aligned, valued and ignited by potential.
The path forward is clear: Listen, learn and lead. Game on, champions!
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Izabela Lundberg, The People Champion, is an Author, Forbes Contributor, TEDx & Keynote Speaker, Humanitarian, Producer, Podcaster & Global Business Leader.
As a Founder of Legacy Leaders Institute, she is a trusted senior global advisor and results-driven transformational strategies to today's and tomorrow's $B visionrly organizations.
Izabela creates a champion culture, thriving high-performing talent, teams, and legacy organizations. To learn more about how Izabela and her team can help you and your organization, click HERE.
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CEO and Cofounder at RSE Ventures | WSJ Bestselling Author: Burn the Boats, Harper Collins, 2023 | Executive Fellow at Harvard Business School
1yNice read, Izabela!
Top 100 Thought Leaders l I help CEOs and Entrepreneurs to achieve their dream/goals l Coach l Bestselling Author I Founder of Psychology Talks l Keynote Speaker l Marketing Research Consultant
1yVery interesting insights
Lawyer, Law Teacher, CEO of a Multinational Credit Sector, Consultant, BZC Contributor
1yIt seems that the trend is for very flexible, deskless and smart work. We no longer play only on the temporal dimension, part-time (vertical/horizontal) and full-time, but also a lot on the spatial dimension: it is where you work from that can really make the difference. Because, for example, proximity bias and loneliness do not help working completely remotely. The hybrid model meets the newfound desire to be with people, meet colleagues and share moments with them, without feeling like prisoners of the office. Consequently, a high sense of responsibility, the ability to self-organise and at the same time use technology as an enabling factor, shared and achievable objectives, time to dedicate to oneself and to one's training. Forgetting the constant monitoring, the stringent timetables to stick to and the fact that the office is the only place to work. Above all, the challenge of collective intelligence, because certain decisions involve a change of pace in the company culture and in the way workers interact with their managers and colleagues. In any case, it will also be a challenge for institutions and law firms, because what emerges is that there is no single model that is good for all businesses, much less for all people.
Husband, father, SEO getting you consistent, unlimited traffic without ads 👉🏻 FreeSEObook.com, written from 17 years as SEO agency owner
1yThis is such a thought-provoking reflection on the future of work, Izabela. Navigating this evolving terrain requires more than just adapting to new technologies and work environments; it's about understanding and respecting our colleagues and teammates.
Chief Executive Officer, AIM WA | Emeritus Professor | Social Trends | Workplace Strategist | Workplace Trend Spotter | Columnist | Director| LinkedIn Top Voice 2018 | Speaker | Content Creator
1y