Thrive in the future workplace
Build new skills to equip yourself for an exciting, innovative office, writes
Louise Richardson
Make no mistake, work in the form many of us know it will one day be largely a thing of the past as a stampede of innovations continues.
That one day could be sooner than you think, so it makes sense to regularly take stock of your skills, thinking about how you can best equip yourself for an exciting future. Companies too need to prepare and equip themselves to be at the cutting edge of business with well-trained and supported, resourceful and innovative staff.
Global management consulting and professional services company Accenture specialises in preparing companies and their employees for adapting to change.
They’ve been doing it since the early 1950s when they consulted with General Electric, which was looking at the feasibility of installing the first computer in a commercial setting in the US. Needless to say, the rest was history.
These days, Accenture is keeping up with advances and staying one step — preferably more — ahead of its clients in order to prepare and advise them.
Justin Gray, the company’s New Zealand managing director, says Accenture has distilled the abilities workers will need in the workplace of the future down to five points.
1. Develop your agility Understand and accept that change is here and that it’s a fast-moving process. Employees might find themselves left behind if they don’t take the opportunity to build new skills in digital aptitude, data analysis and interpretation. As artificial intelligence is increasingly paired with emotional intelligence in all aspects of the workplace, creative thinking and an ability and willingness to experiment will be crucial to success.
2. Think big; then go bigger.
Gray explains that thinking holistically is now just as important as considering the bottom line, which used to be the dominant measure of business success.
“We have new tools at our disposal that allow us to embrace much bigger things and amplify our own and our customers’ experiences, bringing more value to an organisation on every level,” he says.
3. Make use of diversity
Gray says diversity can lead to innovation on every level as people bring their own strengths and experiences into play. It’s a way of thinking that involves teamwork, and a willingness to learn from each other. In workplaces that are committed to cultural and gender equality — with firm core values — the potential for successful interactions is increased. 4.Learn continuously
“We also have the means now to take advantage of constant, rapid feedback, which helps us improve processes and provide customers with something they can appreciate immediately.”
5. Partner with machines
“It can sound a bit daunting but actually, it isn’t, and we should use these collaborations effectively,” says Gray. “We need to see artificial intelligence as an asset rather than a competitor, and I think that’s what’s happening in many sectors now.
“For example, if somebody dies and their partner is claiming their life insurance, it can make sense for the initial conversation and filling out the claim form to be done via a virtual digital assistant, because that’s quick and efficient. It effectively frees the insurance worker to then be able to communicate more closely with the claimant and show real care and empathy at a difficult time.”
Gray emphasises that the changes taking place should be embraced by people of all skill levels, and that no one should be scared or nervous about them. He says older people have just as much to contribute as millennials, and digital natives and it’s often okay to take things more slowly.
“Those of us who grew up before all this technology arrived had to be disciplined in order to learn, as we certainly didn’t have the internet at hand to help us. That discipline is something we can bring into our work environments, and use it in a positive way.”
He says although automation will inevitably take some jobs away, it will deliver many more as our skills in terms of partnering with technology improve — and that by trial and error we will discount some ways of doing things while embracing others.
Even outside the corporate world, in sectors such as health and law enforcement, smart adaptations of existing processes will improve results and outcomes.
Gray says that in the health and law enforcement areas, a certain level of automation will reduce much of the need for paperwork and other process-oriented tasks, which will enhance the quality of the human interaction.
He points out that employers are going to need to work more closely with their employees in terms of training and support.
“The old style of performance review will be a thing of the past,” says Gray.
“Feedback will need to be more continuous and in real-time and employers will need to make training available in order for their people to be able to pivot where necessary in order to help a company maintain its competitive advantage.”