Circa 1986 - The workplace is characterised by jobs for life, planned career ladders, job security and constancy. Manual practices and face-to-face contact typifies the workflow. A regular five-day work week and 9-5 job hours is the norm.
Circa 2006 - Rampant lay-offs, portfolio careers, lifelong learning and self-reliance mark the advent of the 21st century. Technological developments and globalisation are on the foray. Flexi-hours and telecommuting options herald an era of computerisation and anytime-anywhere workspace networks. An employee files a project report from his bedroom at midnight, while another wakes up at 4 am to `meet' a colleague across the planet - scenarios that were entirely implausible earlier.
Circa 2026 - Who can predict?
Needless to say, change is all around us, dogging our footsteps every day. Things were wholly different just two decades ago and will surely change soon. As Bonita Paterson, president of the Colorado Human Resources Association highlights, `Two things are constant in the workplace. One is change. You won't be doing tomorrow what you are doing today. And two is workload intensity.'
Subsequently, the wave of change may wipe away time-honoured, conventional and habitual ways of doing things, bringing an uncharted territory of new positions, skills and traits wherein ignorance can even question job survival!
The shape of things to come...
The sun will rise tomorrow on a changed scenario. In fact, even the rate of change is accelerating with newer possibilities ever on the anvil.
Futurists anticipate a highly-innovative, interactive and flexible workplace devoid of supervision. Proactive and consultative leaders will replace reactive and authoritarian managers at the helm. In the competition for talent, employers will be more selective, focussing on quality and newer characteristics. Employees will have to be in charge of their own work, participate in management thinking while considering the bottom-line too.
Prepare today to land the best jobs of tomorrow...
Per se, remaining employed and challenged in the future hangs in the balance. As an employee, you cannot afford to concentrate solely on current work; you should scan the horizon even while effectively managing your present career. Moreover, to improve your hiring quotient in the workplace to come, you have to position yourself to recognise and pre-empt the quantum shift in perceptions.
Here's what you have to watch out for:
Tech-savvy - Technology and computerisation are mushrooming rapidly. Keep yourself abreast of hi-tech advances, as they will shape jobs and organisations. Become comfortable with online tools like email, blogs, podcasts, web conferencing, so you can transfer data with ease and communicate in the virtual world.
Go global - To cope in the global marketplace, equip yourself with international skills like effective interaction with diverse people, sensitivity to cultural differences, virtual communication and groundwork for international assignments. Moreover, as a consultant points out, `bilingual employees are one up on others because stronger relationships are forged when you can speak in another person's native language'.
Team spirit - Can you afford to work in isolation when stand-alone performance gives way to empowered, multi-disciplinary teams? To successfully function in self-managed teams, build the interpersonal skills to create rapport and collaboration. Sharing knowledge, facilitating idea generation and structuring efficiency in the team are of prime importance. Conflict resolution, team-building, group problem-solving, negotiating and team leadership skills will stand you in good stead.
Flexibility - The enthusiasm and ability to roll with the punches will be a premium, as volatile employment, multiple jobs, loyalty, fluid roles, teleworking and sub-contracting will silhouette the work scenario. Demonstrate the resilience to make necessary changes and adapt easily. Also, the autonomous nature of work will call for focussed and self-motivated employees who can work without supervision.
Education - The future spells a greater focus on skills and capability. So, develop a lifelong learning outlook along with the curiosity to acquire and willingness to apply new knowledge. Also, single specialisation is on the way out; crossing skill boundaries is what is crucial. Jennifer Jarratt, a futurist and VP of Coates & Jarratt Inc., Washington says, `Now, workers who are really valued have an additional "something". It might be an engineer with an M.B.A., a nurse with financial ability or a techie with business or legal skills.' As such, ongoing training and constant updating of futuristic skills will build a portfolio of strengths to maintain your employability in the new job market.
Think big - Dramatic change may eliminate your job or even make the career obsolete. Therefore, instead of confining yourself to your current job, shift your focus to organisational goals and development.
Identify and repackage the entire array of your skills, talents and assets so as to use them in new and different ways across a range of occupations.
This will prime you to fill unmet needs, create value and eventually tap into new jobs.
Change-agent - To exploit change to your advantage, observe, identify, interpret and learn from recent developments.
Staying aware of shifts in customer and market demands, innovative products, latest assignments and new job fields combined with appropriate training will favourably position you for future opportunities.
All said and done, who can accurately predict the future? Nevertheless, picking up early indicators of imminent change and preparing accordingly will equip you to face it head-on.
Thereby, not only will you not resist change, but actually embrace it and enjoy the ride too.
As someone rightly said, `Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today!'
Circa 2006 - Rampant lay-offs, portfolio careers, lifelong learning and self-reliance mark the advent of the 21st century. Technological developments and globalisation are on the foray. Flexi-hours and telecommuting options herald an era of computerisation and anytime-anywhere workspace networks. An employee files a project report from his bedroom at midnight, while another wakes up at 4 am to `meet' a colleague across the planet - scenarios that were entirely implausible earlier.
Circa 2026 - Who can predict?
Needless to say, change is all around us, dogging our footsteps every day. Things were wholly different just two decades ago and will surely change soon. As Bonita Paterson, president of the Colorado Human Resources Association highlights, `Two things are constant in the workplace. One is change. You won't be doing tomorrow what you are doing today. And two is workload intensity.'
Subsequently, the wave of change may wipe away time-honoured, conventional and habitual ways of doing things, bringing an uncharted territory of new positions, skills and traits wherein ignorance can even question job survival!
The shape of things to come...
The sun will rise tomorrow on a changed scenario. In fact, even the rate of change is accelerating with newer possibilities ever on the anvil.
Futurists anticipate a highly-innovative, interactive and flexible workplace devoid of supervision. Proactive and consultative leaders will replace reactive and authoritarian managers at the helm. In the competition for talent, employers will be more selective, focussing on quality and newer characteristics. Employees will have to be in charge of their own work, participate in management thinking while considering the bottom-line too.
Prepare today to land the best jobs of tomorrow...
Per se, remaining employed and challenged in the future hangs in the balance. As an employee, you cannot afford to concentrate solely on current work; you should scan the horizon even while effectively managing your present career. Moreover, to improve your hiring quotient in the workplace to come, you have to position yourself to recognise and pre-empt the quantum shift in perceptions.
Here's what you have to watch out for:
Tech-savvy - Technology and computerisation are mushrooming rapidly. Keep yourself abreast of hi-tech advances, as they will shape jobs and organisations. Become comfortable with online tools like email, blogs, podcasts, web conferencing, so you can transfer data with ease and communicate in the virtual world.
Go global - To cope in the global marketplace, equip yourself with international skills like effective interaction with diverse people, sensitivity to cultural differences, virtual communication and groundwork for international assignments. Moreover, as a consultant points out, `bilingual employees are one up on others because stronger relationships are forged when you can speak in another person's native language'.
Team spirit - Can you afford to work in isolation when stand-alone performance gives way to empowered, multi-disciplinary teams? To successfully function in self-managed teams, build the interpersonal skills to create rapport and collaboration. Sharing knowledge, facilitating idea generation and structuring efficiency in the team are of prime importance. Conflict resolution, team-building, group problem-solving, negotiating and team leadership skills will stand you in good stead.
Flexibility - The enthusiasm and ability to roll with the punches will be a premium, as volatile employment, multiple jobs, loyalty, fluid roles, teleworking and sub-contracting will silhouette the work scenario. Demonstrate the resilience to make necessary changes and adapt easily. Also, the autonomous nature of work will call for focussed and self-motivated employees who can work without supervision.
Education - The future spells a greater focus on skills and capability. So, develop a lifelong learning outlook along with the curiosity to acquire and willingness to apply new knowledge. Also, single specialisation is on the way out; crossing skill boundaries is what is crucial. Jennifer Jarratt, a futurist and VP of Coates & Jarratt Inc., Washington says, `Now, workers who are really valued have an additional "something". It might be an engineer with an M.B.A., a nurse with financial ability or a techie with business or legal skills.' As such, ongoing training and constant updating of futuristic skills will build a portfolio of strengths to maintain your employability in the new job market.
Think big - Dramatic change may eliminate your job or even make the career obsolete. Therefore, instead of confining yourself to your current job, shift your focus to organisational goals and development.
Identify and repackage the entire array of your skills, talents and assets so as to use them in new and different ways across a range of occupations.
This will prime you to fill unmet needs, create value and eventually tap into new jobs.
Change-agent - To exploit change to your advantage, observe, identify, interpret and learn from recent developments.
Staying aware of shifts in customer and market demands, innovative products, latest assignments and new job fields combined with appropriate training will favourably position you for future opportunities.
All said and done, who can accurately predict the future? Nevertheless, picking up early indicators of imminent change and preparing accordingly will equip you to face it head-on.
Thereby, not only will you not resist change, but actually embrace it and enjoy the ride too.
As someone rightly said, `Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today!'
PAYAL CHANANIA
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