This article was contributed by entrepreneur and Future of Work expert Elatia Abate – see full bio below.
There are more opportunities and unknowns for entrepreneurs and business leaders as we move from the acute economic crisis of the pandemic’s lockdown into ‘The Interim’ time, where municipalities, states and countries relax restrictions and we begin to dance with what unfolds.
Rather than hang our companies’ futures on the accordion-like movement of re-openings, re-closings, and possible new lockdown measures, we can take proactive steps to help ourselves, businesses and teams thrive as we transition from Now to Next.
With the idea of supporting fellow entrepreneurs, small business owners, and leaders successfully through this transition, I hosted a second series of ‘Thriving in Uncertainty’ conversations that explored what we will need to succeed in this in between time. We welcomed attendees from more than 25 countries, and talked innovation, adaptation, the future of work and education.
Here are five of the most inspiring and useful ideas from the day.
1. We are being presented with an opportunity to reshape the world.
The sudden and massive disruption to our economy and society has accelerated a series of shifts that were already underway and is shining a bright light on what wasn’t working.
Nancy Giordano, futurist and founder of Play Big, Inc., shared four big shifts that provide a frame for the design of the new economy, and that can help each of us explore the opportunities available. They include the digital future and the impact of technology on our lives; the economic and social inequities that exist; our impact on the environment; and the strength and design of our support structures.
We could focus on what is “wrong” about what wasn’t working, or get into action and create a better, more inclusive, more collaborative world. The opportunities are found in the creating.
2. Work on engaging your talent, not your employees.
The trend toward freelance, independent, and contract work before the pandemic was accelerating. In the United States, it is estimated that somewhere between 35 and 40% of the workforce was independent. With the millions of lay-offs that have occurred, bringing unemployment to levels not seen since the Great Depression, it is possible that 50% of the working population, or more, may never return to traditional jobs. What does this mean for our businesses?
Carl Camden, former CEO of Kelly Services and Founder & President of iPSE-U.S. says that the old models of employee engagement are defunct. “Almost every aspect of what we teach in management science, business planning, [and] product development, is all based on an employment model that’s now in the process of being shattered.”
