Face the future on the crest of the wave while the rest are pulled under The Future-Proof Workplace is a survival guide for the new realities of business. The future is no longer some far-off destination; it is here, right now, and already changing the way we work. Historically, the sea-changes have advanced humanity and inspired us to reach even further; from the Dark Ages to the Age of Enlightenment, from agrarian to industrial societies—and today is no different. But only those who are ready for the changes will come out thriving. This book highlights the changes already taking place around us: the transition from skills to knowledge, the neuroscience approach to leadership and motivation, galloping technical advances, and more. Whether you're a CEO, a leader or manager, or just trying to survive the chaos, this invaluable guide is your wake-up call—the future is now.
The new forces emerging must be understood now if your organization is to succeed. This book details the transformation every business must make to turn upheaval into opportunity.
- Discover how emerging technologies and neuroscience research are already impacting the way we work
- Learn how yesterday's biases are being replaced by modern values, culture, and relationships
- Consider the "heart" of your organization, and whether it can stand up to the purpose-driven paradigm of the future
- Find new achievement in the new organizational structure, and examine models that are already emerging
Everyone knows that changes are needed—and fast. The question is: which changes, and how? The Future-Proof Workplace maps the transformation, and gives you an itinerary for each step of the way.
Table of Contents:
Foreword Marshall Goldsmith xv
Chapter 1 Surviving and Thriving in Turbulence 1
Today, Not Tomorrow 2
Waves of Change 2
Digitization and Change 4
Changing Demographics 5
Globalization Is Now 6
Shock and Awe 7
Six Factors of Change 8
Looking Ahead 17
The Future Happened Yesterday 18
Chapter 2 Leadership: Leading the Future 21
An Old Brand of Leadership 22
Self-Focused Leadership 23
Greed 24
The Consequences 26
Twenty-First-Century Leadership 27
The Privilege of Leadership 28
Personal Values Create Company Values 28
Defining Values 31
Leaders with Heart 32
A Decision to Lead 37
Future-Proof Your Company 39
Future-Proof Your Career 40
Chapter 3 Culture: The Key for Innovation and Speed 41
What’s the Difference? 41
Culture and the Customer 43
The Evolution of Culture 45
Understanding Culture 46
Fast-Forward Culture 47
The Values and Culture Connection 48
Bringing Culture to Light 49
How Do You Create a Culture That Hums? 55
Hard Choices 56
Leading a Future-Proof Culture 57
Future-Proof Your Company 59
Future-Proof Your Career 60
Chapter 4 Purpose: Navigating Turbulent Waters 61
Mission and Vision 62
What Are We Building? 64
Purpose 67
Purpose Is Inspiring 68
The Power of Purpose 69
Purpose and People 71
Banking on Purpose 72
Future-Proof Your Company 75
Future-Proof Your Career 76
Chapter 5 Relationships: Our Connected Future 77
A Tale of Two Parts: Morag’s Story 79
Relationship with Work 81
Work in the Future-Past 83
Career Lattice 85
Relationship with Employer 88
Relationship with Colleagues 90
Relationship with Cultures 92
Relationship with the Community 93
Relationship with Our Network 94
Balancing Is No Act 96
Future-Proof Your Company 98
Future-Proof Your Career 99
Chapter 6 Diversity and Inclusion: Future Inclusion 101
Sea Change 102
The Facts about Women 103
Stereotyping Is Personal 105
When Bias Seems Pragmatic 107
Brain Science, Bias, and Diversity 109
Stereotyping and Personal Beliefs 111
Vicious Cycles 112
Bias in the Mirror 112
Rewiring Inclusion 114
Taking Action 115
Future-Proof Your Company 116
Future-Proof Your Career 117
Chapter 7 Technology: Resistance Is Futile 119
Technology the Disrupter and Enabler 121
Data Is Big 122
Genuine Intelligence 125
Uploading into Society 127
What’s Your Response Time? 129
Future Workforce 131
Changing Identities 132
Everything Is Connected and Transparent 135
Personal Impact 136
Your Reality 137
Catching the Wave 139
Future-Proof Your Company 141
Future-Proof Your Career 142
Chapter 8 Learning: Curious Learners 143
The Hare and the Tortoise 144
Welcome to the Nano-Degree 146
Curiosity in the Driver’s Seat 147
Introducing the “T” Learner 150
Soft Skills Finally Take Center Stage 152
Collecting Credentials Instead of Certificates 153
Are You Learning Agile? 155
Modernizing Talent Management 155
The Old Days of Too Young 156
We Can’t Afford a Training Budget 157
Learning Is a Contact Sport 158
Build a Learning Culture 158
A Global Learning Mind-Set 161
Content Curation and Knowledge Management 162
Throw Out the HR Rule Book 163
Performance Management Becomes the Performance Moment 165
Rewrite the Training Policies 166
We All Want to Learn 167
Future-Proof Your Company 168
Future-Proof Your Career 169
Chapter 9 Workspace: The Future-Proof Workspace 171
Time to Take Back the Key to the Executive Washroom 172
Down with the Cubicle Farm 172
It Takes More than a Ping-Pong Table 174
From Water Coolers to Watering Holes 175
Anytime, Anywhere 176
From Corporate Campus to Community Campus 178
Designing for Wellness 179
Social and Environmental Responsibility 180
What Can You Transform Today? 180
Future-Proof Your Company 182
Future-Proof Your Career 183
Chapter 10 Future-Proof Workplace: Waves of Change 185
The Human Wave 187
Leading the Future 188
Culture Determines Innovation and Speed 190
Navigating with Purpose 191
Our Relational Future 192
Future Inclusion 192
Resistance Is Futile—Technology 193
Curious Learners 194
The Future-Proof Workspace 194
Work Matters 195
Tidal Waves 196
Overwhelmed? 198
The Future 198
Follow Our Three Es 199
Notes 201
Acknowledgments 205
Welcome to the Future of Work 207
About the Authors 209
Also by the Authors 211
Index 217
About the Author :
Dr. LINDA SHARKEY is a Founding Member of the Marshall Goldsmith Group, a premier executive coaching organization. Her clients include Boeing, GE, NetApp, Sodexo, Key Bank, Sanofi, and Lexis Nexis.
MORAG BARRETT is CEO of SkyeTeam, an international leadership development company. At last count Morag has worked with more than 3,000 leaders in 20 countries, including Google, Scholastic, Microsoft, DexMedia, Topgolf, Level 3 Communications, and Denver Art Museum.
