Welcome to the future of work

Many of us know that today’s business world is changing. This is not new. It has always been this way. Alas, it is also a fact that due to digital change the pace of change in our business world, economy and even society as a whole has picked up tremendously. 5 years ago nobody talked about Tesla or Uber. Today not only lots of people heard about them and actually use their products and services, these products and services change the interactions and dynamics of business altogether. There may be some glitches, backlashes and opposition to new products and services as it has always been. But, this change, this uncertainty is here to stay. Who knows if, for example, Volkswagen will still be around in five to ten years? Remember companies such as Kodak, Blockbuster or Nokia who were so stable and strong?

Welcome to the VUCA world

We live in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world – the so-called VUCA world – and this drives business leaders nuts. Gone are the days of certainty, control, plan and doing business as usual. The compass and direction of the established philosophy that businesses run like well-oiled engines are gone. What stays behind are questions, concerns, fears – and the understanding that businesses have to change if they want to survive and thrive in today’s Digital Age. But, what does it take? – There is no simple answer. However, what we can do is to identify the pitfalls, the backlashes, the viscious circles that keep us stuck in inertia. Here is a list of the top 3 pitfalls that keep conscious business leaders away from grasping the future of work in today’s digital age:

Pitfall #3: Fear of uncertainty

We may understand the need and value of change but we don’t like it and, even more, we hate uncertainty. We overcome this fear of change and uncertainty by planning and controlling processes. By securing a status quo. By the urge for perfection. Oh, yes we may actually embrace change but only as long as we can come up with quick fixes that yield immediate results.

What’s so bad about it? – Change, the New, innovation – they all have one characteristic in common: they are uncertain at the present moment. How can we learn new things if we don’t try them out?! Yes, there is always a likelihood that we fail, that we make mistakes. This is the prerequisite for learning. Or have you ever seen a child who just stands up and walks without first having falling hundreds of times?!

Pitfall #2: It’s about me. I have to defend my realm and power.

We see the value of teamwork – as long as it doesn’t undermine our own sphere of influence and power. Teamwork is great if it serves our own political agenda, goals, aspirations. Or, we empower our subordinates to work in teams. But at the end of the day it is us who have to made decisions. After all, it is us who hold responsibility and accountability. And those at the top, they are there for a good reason and, by the way, organizational hierarchies have proven helpful for decades.

What’s so bad about it? – It is not about an individual somewhere in an organization but a whole business which consists of many parts interacting with each other. Hierarchies may be helpful for administrative purposes but rarely do they promote collaboration across functional fields. High performing teams share a common motivation, vision, goals and values. It is not about levels in hierarchies, it is about a team performing as a unit. Or have you ever seen a soccer team with 11 goals keepers or 11 strikers? The mixture of roles and moving in unison make all the difference.

Pitfall #1: Business is always #1.

Let’s face it, whatever new ideas or approaches fly around, the bottom line is profits and pleasing shareholder interests because, remember, shareholders give us the money. This is why we have to deliver quarterly results that are convincing and look good and we do whatever it takes to achieve this. Everything else comes second or third.

What’s so bad about it? – A business without customers and without a workforce doesn’t exist. It is not a question of what comes first, ‘chicken or egg!’. The purpose of a firm is to create value for the customer. And for this you need a functioning workforce. However, people are not resources or machines but human beings and want to be treated as such. Furthermore, giving them and sharing a motivation and vision of your business will carry your business a long way.

A journey to the future

I doubt it that these pitfalls are new to you. You have either experienced them by yourself, observed in organizations and companies, have read or heard about them. On the other side, you have probably heard of companies that have already arrived in the Digital Age, that don’t talk about or plan the future of work but practice it. There are numerous companies out there and the numbers are growing. The question is if you want to be among them or left behind. And, if you do want to follow suit, what do you want to invest and what are your immediate next steps?

If you are interested, Motivate2B accompanies you on this journey. May it be in workshops, seminars, coaching, consulting or business partnerships. Contact us to find out more.