The Future of Work

A Taligens Insight

How do leaders ensure their organization and people will be effective in our VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) world? What new skills and ways of working are required for individuals and organizations to thrive?

At Taligens, we approach the Future of Work with these questions in mind, and look to prepare our clients and their organizations for the new state of work required.

We help our clients articulate what their future work will look like, define their Future of Work strategy, and effectively roll out the change through their organization, ensuring their organization and people are well prepared today for their future in a VUCA world.

1. Skills to Navigate Uncertainty

Significant and unpredictable shifts are part of today's everyday life, and are expected to continue into the future. The Future of Work involves building new skills for greater resilience in a world of fast-paced change. From listening for and anticipating emerging shifts; to articulating powerful and inspiring narratives that align individuals to a new future; to cultivating moods of exploration, openness and resolution, these new skills will be essential for leaders and teams to thrive in a world of continuous change.

2. Talent Upskilling and Reskilling

The jobs of the future are changing. From a need for greater digital literacy to entire industries undergoing disruption, organizations are realizing their current role profiles and skill sets don't align with what they will need for the future. This skills gap has only been accelerated by the pandemic, with a large displacement of workers in certain areas, and a shortage of talent in others. Organizations will need to think strategically about their current and future roles and capabilities, and define and create viable pipelines to meet their talent needs for both today and tomorrow.

3. Increased Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Organizations that flourish in the future will have strong practices and structures to listen to diverse backgrounds and to create an inclusive and equitable environment in which a pluralism of voices can be heard. It is through listening to, and being in open dialogue with, a diverse set of individuals that richer, and more resilient futures will be created.

4. Partnering People, Data & Technology

The arrival of automation, AI, and other digital technology has only accelerated with the pandemic. But the act of bringing new technology into an organization is not a sure-win. The key to value generation will be how well the new technology can be integrated into the organization, and how well people can use these new technology and data sources to drive value-based decisions for their customers and organization. 

5. Hybrid Working

The move to hybrid and remote working accelerated during the pandemic, and organizations saw that people could work effectively outside of their office walls. As companies explore what their working environment will look like going forward, many are seeking a balance between employee well-being and business performance and success. Whatever mix each organization lands on, strong practices for effective communication and trust will be key.

6. Bridgings Organizational Silos

The call to bridge organizational silos isn't a new one. And yet, silos remain a nettle for many organizations and leaders. In a fast-paced world of unpredictable change, being able to work effectively across functions, and pivot expeditiously as needed, will be essential to generate value across the value chain. Defining a cross-functional game for the business will be important: declaring who the customers are, what value is being created for them, the role that each function and individual plays in the value creation, and agreeing on how the game will be played will be important in bridging the silos and driving long-term value in a VUCA world.

7. Culture of Entrepreneurship & Innovation

The Future of Work will require more than just a shift in individual skills. It will demand a new cultural style in which organizational entrepreneurship and innovation flourish; where individuals and teams articulate new futures with and for others; and where innovation is driven not just top-down but through customer-focused value-driven offers at all layers.

At Taligens, we help our clients imagine and build inspired futures by reconnecting people to the meaning of their work.

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