Adapting to Emerging Workplace Realities and How To Plan Your Escape

There are market trends emerging that are forcing me to reevaluate everything I thought I knew about the state of the world. These shifts are reshaping the way we work, challenging traditional models, and demanding innovative thinking.?

The Demise of the 40-Hour Work Week: Embracing Results Over Hours

I am a recovering workaholic. Talk to any investment banker, lawyer, entrepreneur or management consultant and they will tell you about their all-nighter. Which is why this is tough for my work ethic to say this: the traditional 40-hour work week is on life support. Why??

The emerging workforce, particularly younger generations, is challenging the notion of conventional work hours. Qualified and talented individuals are finding themselves penalized for being more efficient and delivering higher-quality work than those coasting along.?

A silent revolution of "quiet quitting" is happening as disillusioned employees seek alternative work arrangements. This paradigm shift is fueled by a generation that has grown up in front of computers, knows how to code, and is unafraid of AI.

Statistic: Millennials and Gen Z employees believe that companies should prioritize results over hours worked.

Paid-for-Time Model Is Dying: The Evolution of Consulting Businesses (Law, Management Consulting and Technology Consulting)

The days of paying for time rather than outcomes are numbered. Why? No one wants to pay for your team's inefficiency and/or failure to lead effectively. This is also what makes automation and the rise of AI so attractive.

These traditional business models are shifting towards a value or outcome-based approach. Clients are increasingly demanding that consultants get paid only when they deliver tangible milestones. This change encourages efficiency, accountability, and a results-oriented mindset. When I worked at a growth strategy firm, this is how we structured our contracts. In hindsight, it was very forward thinking. You get paid for the value you create, not your time. #WorkSmarterNotHarder

I will preface that this can also lead to extremely unhealthy work environments. Humans are not machines and they will not be productive all the time. It will be a delicate dance to implement well. #PeopleAreNotRobots

Statistic: A survey reveals that businesses are more likely to hire freelancers or consultants who work on an outcome-based pricing model.

Automation and the Evolution of Creative Roles

Automation, powered by AI and innovative technologies, is transforming the job landscape. While jobs may not be entirely replaced by machines, those who do not adapt and leverage technology to become more efficient are at risk. The barrier to entry for creating digital content is lowering, with tools allowing individuals to create without a specialized background. The emphasis is on using technology to enhance, not replace, human capabilities.

Statistic: A majority of executives believe that automation and AI will significantly improve productivity and efficiency in their organizations.

Beyond Product Creation: The Rise of Product Success

Every company will have a digital twin business model – whether it is a physical or digital product. Therefore, the building of digital products alone has become a commoditized industry. Everyone is doing it and soon, everyone including an MBA can build an app with no code/low code products.??#EvenAnMBACanDoIt (come on it is funny and non-technical founders, this is your moment to shine with your ideas!)

This means the competition is about to heat up in an even playing field (and also become extremely noisy and competitive for companies -- welcome to the Attention Economy).

Success will no longer be defined by solely designing and creating products; it's about ensuring their success. This involves a dedication to defining and measuring performance, incorporating learnings from experiments, and creating a flywheel effect to growth. The era of accidental successes is fading, making way for intentional product growth strategies.

Statistic: Companies that focus on user-centric design and data-driven decision-making are more likely to outperform their competitors.

Fractional FTEs in Management Roles: A New Approach to Leadership

Management roles are undergoing a transformation with the rise of fractional leadership roles. Depending on the company's growth stage, fractional leadership roles, like a part-time COO, CMO or CFO are becoming more common.

Companies will no longer need to succumb to outdated private equity models to increase shareholder value. You can hire a fractional leader who can help you realize more value, in a short amount of time, before you decide if selling is your best option. This means higher valuations and better outcomes.

This is actually what I’m interested in doing next with my career whether it is through a private equity firm that realizes they too -- need to be disrupted or with a smaller team of really smart, capable and ethical individuals.

How I am Thinking About My Future

As I think about future-proofing my own life against very strong winds I see impacting society, my plan is to create a “ Portfolio Life” and follow the work of my friends, Christina Wallace and April Rinne, both who are speakers, authors, entrepreneurs, professors, investors and overall incredible women. I plan to share my process publicly because this is all a relevantly new concept and I am blazing my own path. I will share my thesis as I develop it. #BuildInPublic?

In the meantime if anything I said resonates or you have more thoughts, my DM’s are open. Happy to talk and happy to evolve my thinking.

???? Also, let me re-introduce myself. I’m Jeanette Cajide. I am a future thinker and strategist applying methods, tools and strategies at the intersection of technology and human performance. My goal is to disrupt the status quo and live a life of MUSTs not SHOULDs. When Good Enough....Isn't. Follow me for more posts.

#FutureOfWork #WorkplaceTrends #Innovation #Leadership #DigitalTransformation #WhenGoodEnough

Photo by Robs on Unsplash