It’s the End of the World as We Know It

If you’re an Xer like me, then you know the end of the world starts with an earthquake—at least according to R.E.M. Unfortunately though, in today’s workplace, very few people are noticing the tremors. Trends are evolving at a crazy rapid pace, and within the next 5 to 10 years the world of work may look distinctly different from what we’ve always known.

I see it coming. Do you?

Here are four major trends to be aware of as you navigate the world of work and talent development.

1. A massive generational shift is on! Baby boomers have been the largest generation in the workplace for the last 30 years. They’ve developed and defined the current system of how we go to work, how we accomplish work, and how we think about work. But they’re exiting the scene. Boomers are retiring, and new generations of talent with fresh and different skill sets—and perspectives—are entering.

2. Generations are colliding. Not only are young bucks flooding the workplace, but they’re also rubbing veterans the wrong way. Who’s to say what the “right” way is to work anymore? How we do business is changing, and this is causing friction that smart companies must address.

3. Technology is upgrading at breakneck speed. I recently heard a company laid off 35 workers as they implemented artificial intelligence. Now trucks can drive themselves and robots can do the work of thinking men. It’s like the industrial revolution on steroids. This requires finding talent with the specific skill sets to manage the upgrades as well as training existing employees to keep pace.

4. Employer/employee tables are turning. Once upon a time, employers had the upper hand. They determined when you worked, how much you got paid, and what you did on the job. Today’s talent is seeking a more fluid relationship. There’s a lot more give and take. In some industries we’re waging a talent war in which top candidates must be fought for. What will you offer that differentiates your opportunity from another?

All of this creates some pretty huge issues (I prefer to call them opportunities) within the workplace related to: cultural transformation, succession planning, training and development, talent management, recruitment and retention, information transfer, virtual environments, and finding people with cutting edge skill sets. To name just a handful.

Some of you may believe these trends are no different from other issues we’ve encountered in the past. And it’s true the American economy has withstood significant shifts before. Yet what if? What if this transformation is different? What if this is the Big One?

And you’re not doing anything about it.

Let me ask you this. What have you got to lose by opening your eyes to the changes all around you? Better question—what might you lose if you don’t?

I see these problems already wreaking havoc within organizations today. Yet unfortunately, many employers are not willing to change. Are you struggling to find the right talent? Have you changed the way you recruit or even think about your workforce? Or are you just doing what everyone else is doing because that’s the way it’s always been done?

I believe we are embarking on a workplace revolution. A shake-up that thrusts us to a new way of thinking. I want to be in front of the wave and preparing for what comes next. Don’t you? It’s going to be a crazy and magnificent ride.

Will you join me?

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Get the discussion rolling:
Which of these four major trends are hitting your workplace right now? What issues are rising because of it? What do you see as being the biggest factors in world-of-work transformation today?