Is the future of your #work joyful? Or are we ALL just too #stressed out?
Dan S?dergren
Inspirational professional keynote speaker / trainer and author about the #FutureOfWork, #Technology and #AI Hire Dan as an inspirational #keynotespeaker / corporate trainer or as your private workshop provider.
I don’t know about you but I love what I do. OK… Not all of it. But most of it. But even with loving my role at YourFLOCK . And the media work I do for the likes of the BBC and Huawei. And the keynotes for others. Juggling these two / three roles. Working remotely. The pressure of the cost of living increases and inflation. The strikes on and the politics of the modern world.
What about You? Stressed?
As the world's employees are feeling even more stressed than they did in 2020. (The previous all-time high). As new research from Gallup shows that:
“44% of employees experienced A LOT of daily stress from the previous day.”
And that perhaps the UK is the worst for it. And that certain professions lead the way when it comes to unwanted stress. And having bad cultures at work - a big reason for more stress. And those that work in those professions will not be surprised.
At Your FLOCK we work primarily with the legal and professional services sectors. And we can tell you that the new findings around them - by Culture Shift - are not good.
Meanwhile, outside the legal sector, in their Global research Gallup have found that:
“Both Europe and South Asia (which includes India) dropped 5 percentage points in wellbeing in 2021. With South Asia having the lowest wellbeing in the world at 11%. Workers in these regions not only felt like their current life was worse than it had previously been, their hope in the future also dropped.”
Whilst shocking new research, on LinkedIn, may show one of the reasons why we find work stressful. Especially in Europe. As we are the least engaged at work in the world. As the new report shows the lack of engagement at work for many European countries. And their employees.
Only 14% of professionals in Europe are engaged at work.
Compared to 33% in North America and 21% globally. So European employee engagement is almost 40% less than the global?
Is that right?
Followers of this newsletter. Know that this disengagement not only affects employees’ wellbeing. But also a company’s performance. And this report confirms this. Showing that businesses:
"With engaged workers have higher profits than those with less motivated ones."
Which kinda makes sense. And then this also begins the spiral. Not the cost of living / wage increasing / inflation spiral. But the lack of happiness spiral. Downwards.
The less happy we are at work. The less productive. The less productive. The more pressure on the workforce. Either people get fired or some people leave. But more and more, people have to do more work.
WHO’S FAULT IS THIS?
In a new report on the European problem by Achievers. They identified that European workers surveyed believed their COMPANY could do more. To make them feel engaged with their work. And at the top of the list in most countries was enhanced recognition:
The single biggest factor pinpointed by British workers. As hindering their engagement with their job. Was feeling under appreciated for their contributions. with more than a quarter selecting this option (27%). This compared with:
- 24% in Ireland,
- 20% in Netherlands
- 15% in Belgium
selecting this as the primary barrier to engagement.
"Only 1 in 5 recognition-starved British employees consider themselves valued."
So more recognition is key - which is kinda why we invented Your FLOCK our team engagement platform. As employees and fellow team members can give feedback based on their values. And get recognition from this from their team leaders. This recognition, we are learning, is more and more important.
As the great re-evaluation (Julia Hobsbawm) puts it…. Goes on.
Another thing management can do. Is lessen the cognitive burden of work, buy embracing technology to help. This is when things like AI might come in and be helpful. Or if not AI quite just yet. Then technologies like software as services to help people.
This was one of the major themes of the inventions tech giant Huawei just showcased. My favourite being the invention was led by the speaker Xi Zheng. Who was part of a group of researchers and developers. That had created something I had been talking about for a while. Almost as a future thought. Which is now a reality. As I explained in my video.)
Where before making wholesale changes to complex systems. For Huawei this might be a network to make sure we have faster wifi and better connections. You make the calculations using a “mockup” of the real world with a digital twin.
You HAVE to do this first. As the real-world concept is so complex. For example, her project had 12,000 different base stations in a sector containing more than 3 million people. And so countless devices. To make the system more efficient, you can play around with the ideas you have first with the digital twin. And then make the changes in real life. These changes accounted for an increase in 12% in efficiency.
But for me it’s also cutting down the human cost time. Using AI and technology to make work better and safer and more productive and efficient. This is what I am all about.
Which is why I also “liked” the invention that helped astronomers. With the huge amount of data, they have to get through. With the new inventions of the AI system and the new computers the calculations used to take 100 seconds to do. Now the calculations are down to 1 sec. Which might not sound a lot in time. But this is by a factor of 100. And so human workloads that were originally months are now just days.
It is by employing this kinds of technology. Where employers can help employees remove stress and workloads. Which is kinda like not so many people having to work back breaking labour in the fields.
CAN WE NOT FIND JOY IN OUR WORK AGAIN?
This evolution of the world of work is what I discussed. On the We Are Joyful Podcast with Sophie Turton and Alice Reeves.
Which was great fun.
But with a serious message.
As they are the future of work to be Joyful. Which very much mirrors my Ted Talk ideas about the future of work being what you love.
As they put it.
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“What would the world look like if all businesses were committed to having a net positive impact? If purpose, people and planet were as important as profit? What would be possible for individuals if they were encouraged to flourish in their full self expression. And allowed to structure their days to suit their energies, (dis)abilities and needs? If the workplace was truly inclusive and accessible?”
They believe, as we do at Your FLOCK, that the future is going to be around bosses listening to the needs of the whole. And them taking a systemic approach to business growth? It will be as if organisations were treated as ecosystems, with every part valued equally.
Everyone has a vote. And everyone is able to live their values and bring their whole self to work. Which is why Your FLOCK, as an employee engagement survey tool is based on individual values with a bottom up methodology. As businesses (and perhaps even governments and society) need to learn that the people have the power.
The more you try to change that. And change them. The more stressed they will become. And right now, as the levels of burnout and stress are showing. The old world doesn’t need anymore stress.
But sadly many employees who are experiencing stress, fatigue and mental health challenges are reluctant to speak out. With more than half of employees still afraid to discuss their mental health with their boss. As highlight in a new report:
“Work-related stress is a big issue with a recent report from Indeed showing that 52% of all workers are experiencing burnout. But if your employees aren’t going to tell you what’s really going on, how can you help them?”
Many employers fail to spot the problems early on. And aren’t quick enough to take action. This risks employees’ well-being, and performance and can even result in them leaving. Them leaving creates a much bigger problem for you and for them. And heck, the world in general.
But what can we do? And what technologies can we use to help our employees? Of course, we would say you can use Your FLOCK, our team engagement platform. But that is a tool for team leaders to use. What are the other tools you can use to help your employees be more productive? Maybe that’s the new job of managers to find out?
What do you think? Do comment below.
About the author
Ted X talker, keynote speaker, ex marketing agency owner, digital trainer, serial tech startup founder and now media spokesperson Dan Sodergren 's main area of interest is the future of work, remote work,data, green tech and tech startups. He is co-founder of www.YourFLOCK.co.uk - a team engagement platform based on values.
In his spare time, as well as being a dad, Dan is a digital marketing and technology expert for the BBC. Donning the cape of consumer champion on shows like BBC WatchDog, the One Show and RipOffBritain and being a marketing tech specialist for SuperShoppers and RealFakeAndUnknown.?
He is also a host and guest on podcasts and webinars speaking as a futurist. As well as being a guest on countless radio shows. And a remote reporter / content creator for tech companies at tech events and shows.?
His main interest is in the future. Be that the future of marketing, or the future or work or how technology will change the world for the better under the #Tech4Good and #Tech4All movement.
Find out more on bit.ly/DanSodergren??
On a personal note:?
I am more than a little excited to be #hosting the BIMA (British Interactive Media Association) event at Ministry Venues in London next week.
The #BIMABeyond conference. On June 29th. 10 amazing TALKS, with amazing SPEAKERS and hundreds of people to connect with. It's a time to step out of the day to day and go beyond! With the speakers for the BIMA (British Interactive Media Association) #BIMABeyond conference including:
@Yayhe Siyad
What an amazing lineup! What amazing people! What an amazing event!
References for the piece:?
This was The YourFLOCK - Friday and the future of work Newsletter. Edition 14.
Future of Work Expert & Entrepreneur. Founder of Workathon network consultancy. Award-winner writer and co-host of The Nowhere Office podcast. Helps you do your best work.
2 年Thank you very much!