While the concept of the workplace culture is by no means new or revolutionary, maintaining the ideal workplace culture has become a top priority in the recent past and for good reason.
This, however, is not as easy as it sounds. Unfortunately, if you want to gain momentum and presence in the evolving economy, this is a very real necessity. With more and more millennials entering the workforce, workplace culture has been redefined to align itself with the values and attitudes of younger generations, who are the future of the economy.
So, what does workplace culture have in store for us as we step into a new decade? What are the new changes and trends we are likely to see?
Here’s a taste of what the future holds.
The stigma around changing jobs every few years has antiquated, so much so that if you’re someone who has changed jobs a few times over the years since you began working, this is considered as growth.
Job hoppers know they are in it only for a short period, which accelerates their need to make a good impression. Thus, they are believed to have a higher learning curve, be better performers, and even be more loyal compared to employees who have been working for a long time in the same company.
Plus, the more times you change jobs, it’s more likely that your salary will only increase.
If you’re an employer and are looking to hire top talent, you are encouraged to view employees as smart contributors from the get-go. Your mental outlook must change to embrace the fact that they have a lot to offer in terms of skills and talent, compared to just years of service.
The gig economy is evolving and it’s weaving its way into corporate boardrooms and government policies. Did you know that by the end of 2019, 35% of the U.S. workforce were freelancers, diversifying the workplace culture and demanding more support to pursue this career choice?
The latest attempt, in this regard, is by the world’s youngest leader, the Prime Minister of Finland, Ms. Sanna Marin, a millennial. She has started a dialogue, which aims to enforce a four-day workweek with only six working hours per day. This could well be seen as an attempt to redefine workplace culture and bring it closer to that of a gig economy.
A shifting economy and a changing workplace culture don’t require you to bury your passions or unique interests. Careers are indeed changing and workplace culture alongside this, but the economy will continue to require a diversity of skill sets.
So, keep an open mind about where your passions and unique interests might lead you. Think laterally and identify overlooked sectors and roles within them that align with your interests.
In terms of networking, the demand for privacy and mobile integration will only increase as we step into 2020. Trading information and the creation of long-term relationships will be in the hands of employees.
Thus, word of mouth will take on a new form and you will see a rapid increase in brand advocacy by employees. Employees as advocates are sure to build more meaningful customer relationships, attract and retain top talent, and improve business performance.
As employers, you must focus more energy on enhancing the employee experience if you want positive sentiments shared among your teams.
The era of digitalization is taking new forms and the focus on workplace culture is becoming more human-centered. These changes have already started taking place within your organization, whether you realize it or not.
If you’re an employee, change your place of work often if you think that will benefit your personal and professional growth, embrace the concept of freelancing and ‘gigging’, increase your self-awareness to think laterally, and don’t forget to demand better employee experiences.
As an employer, you must have an open mind about these changes taking place within your workplace culture and develop them further to boost your growth and keep your teams engaged.
