The COVID 19 pandemic has indelibly changed the way we work and the way we think about work. Before the pandemic, we were already functioning at break-neck speeds to keep up with changes in technology and society while dismantling long-held mores about how, when, and where we work. If the past 18 months have shown anything, it is that the things we once considered normal can change drastically and instantaneously. Now, more than at any other point in recent history, we are at a crossroad and have an opportunity to shape what the future of work will be. We are now making the vital decisions that will inform our Next Normal.
According to the World Economic Forum, the current workforce will need to adapt 40% of its core skills over the next five years to keep up with the changing times. That means two out of every five skills that are currently seen as essential components of a worker’s skill set will soon become obsolete. When we consider what the workplace of the future will look like, there are many variables and unknowns. However what we do know is that the future of work will be determined by a few dominant factors, namely rapid innovation and adaptation to change, technological advancement, and courageous leadership.
Innovation and Adaptation
“Innovation is the calling card of the future” - Congresswoman Anna Eshoo
Until recently, there were many aspects of work culture that were widely accepted as the golden standard. Things like working from a dedicated office space, which was said to produce a better system of collaboration and innovation; or focusing all efforts on mastering one area of expertise rather than learning a broad array of functions; or even adhering to rigid work hours were touted as the best way to ‘work’. In our post COVID society, all of these notions are currently being tested. While working in a dedicated office setting has some benefits, many have come to find that working remotely also has many benefits, both to the company and the employee. Not being tethered to a specific office space while still being able to communicate with a team provides for maximum flexibility. It is this type of fluidity that will create the setting for the Next Normal workplace.
Additionally, we must consider that job preparation in the current market often focuses on a myopic view of what work could/should be. Oftentimes we are siloed into a particular area of expertise and are encouraged to master that domain both in school and professionally. Although this limited mindset may have proved fruitful in the past, it will almost certainly be fatal for future growth. The world in which we live is becoming more hinged on living and growing at the intersections of multiple disciplines. Interdisciplinary learning, according to researchers, creates “higher-order thinkers” who can bring a holistic and analytical approach to new and complex problems. In many ways, the versatility of knowledge is going to be a key driver in deciphering how to work in the future.
Technological Advancement
Technology will play a major role in determining what the future of work will look like. While technology is already at the epicenter of almost every profession and field of study, the onset of the pandemic accelerated a digital transformation and a global revolution. Companies and employees are in a position to determine what work will look like moving forward and learn to quickly accommodate those changes.
For companies, the ability to adapt and quickly pivot will determine success in the future. One of the major changes that became synonymous with the pandemic was the necessity to work from home. With the majority of the workforce working from remote locations, this posed a major dilemma for many organizations who once thrived on building workplace culture and cultivating in-person collaboration and oversight. A decentralized team requires a different type of structure to support it. Companies now have to consider how to shore up digital culture both internally and externally, as well as how to motivate team members from afar while providing clear oversight and direction.
Even before the pandemic, many tech companies began the transition to a more decentralized workforce. One benefit of working for those companies was the flexibility to work from anywhere. When the pandemic began, the businesses that were least impacted were those that had the structure in place to quickly pivot and adapt to the changing climate. The key to success moving forward is to recognize that every company is a tech company, no matter what type of product or service it provides. In order to remain relevant, every organization- whether a bank, library or small business - will need to adopt the innovation and forward-thinking processes that many had previously equated with Silicon Valley. The companies that embrace this truth are the ones that will lead the charge in shaping the Next Normal.
Courageous Leadership
Management in the post-pandemic workplace will also require a different leadership approach than has been touted in the past. Successful leaders will have to become increasingly more agile and open to change in order to help workers be as productive as possible. As the workplace evolves, the skills and direction necessary to lead it will also evolve.
In 2012 only 39% of the workforce worked remotely, however as of April 2021 that number had reached as high as 70%. Because of the pandemic, many workers (and employers) are discovering the joys and hassles of working remotely. The ability to work from anywhere offers employees a chance to work in a comfortable environment and has been shown, in many cases, to increase productivity. For managers, however, this introduces many new variables to an already complex equation. They now have to find the correct balance to help motivate a decentralized team, provide clear direction virtually, ensure all team members feel valued and included, as well as continue to meet metrics to ensure the success of the team.
One of the lasting changes brought on by the pandemic was the way employees relate to work. Having an opportunity to reset gave many people the ability to reevaluate their priorities and they found that the motivators that drove previous generations are currently in a state of flux. Employees today are more interested in flexible schedules, permanent work from anywhere options, work/life balance, and a chance to do fulfilling work for fair wages. The leaders that will thrive are those with the emotional intelligence to decipher what is important to workers, and shape the work culture to accommodate it.
The Takeaways
Covid-19 has changed the world and the workplace completely. Although the past year and a half presented new obstacles, it also provided an opportunity to reevaluate what the landscape of work is and what it can be in the future. As we consider our Next Normal, we must assess the roles that leadership, innovation, and technology will play. Technology and innovation are the key tools to be successful both as a company and as individuals; we must never stop learning new skills and finding creative ways to implement them. Likewise, leadership will need to be more agile than ever before and offer flexible employee packages to attract and retain the right talent. As we quickly usher in this new work landscape, we must take full advantage of the opportunity before us to make the maximum impact on informing our Next Normal.
Written by Sofia Agu - Ajilla Foundation Chief of Staff