What the f#ck is 'Era I'?

The 'Era of the Individual' is here, and it is going to f#ck sh#t up, I hope...

A bit of history:

Social injustice, unfortunately, is a prevaling aspect of human history. A conscious/unconscious tool used to divide and rule which continues to this day. What was once brazen is now more concealed, but you only have to look at gender pay gaps, lack of BAME representation across industry/political leadership and wage disparity to recognise it's still present.

Of the 107 billion people* that have ever existed you could probably have told 99.9% of them as baby's what they would be when they grew up, how they would live, whom they would love and worhsip. Stamped at birth with a socially prescribed roadmap like a battery chicken on a factory conveyor belt.

Blips on the moral heart-rate monitor of human history suggest progress, but more often than not (Athenian democracy, English Magna Carta, US Bill of Rights) they are false-murmurs or virtuous veneers for ongoing subjugation.

Post-WW2 heralded real advancement, with civil rights revolutions and the end of colonialism, but even today... some people still can't love, live and access opportunity in the way they want and deserve.

Era I:

The argument for inclusion was won in the post-war years but decades later the recognition that total implementation has not is for many behind the rise of Era I.

The difference today, compared to past decades is that with the convergence of different technologies the individual is able to express, tribalise and broadcast to a global, receptive audience. Unionising individualism, empowering schoolchildren and employees as activists.

Feelings and tribulations that once isolated us, now embolden us to expect the recognition and respect that we deserve. No longer being alone is entitling us to look after and out for ourselves and woe betide the institution, organisation or political faction that stands between each of us and the way we want to be.

Impact on corporates:

This is where it gets interesting, a corporation traditionally employs a top-down approach with neat hierarchies ensuring 'efficient' delivery.

But, categorization of employees and a one-size-fits-all approach to engagement goes against everything that Era I stands for.

Era I, requires corporates to engage with and support employees as individuals. This can start with how an employee wants to be called or referred to, right through to how an employee wants to learn, develop and experience work. After all, we are all unique.

Failure to do so not only stifles diversity of thought and leadership but impacts the balance sheet as well. Oracle in their 2016 study of 300 corporates** found that:

• 70% of employees want a more individualized experience
• Corporates estimate that they would generate an additional 18% in annual revenue if they offered highly individualised experiences
• Just 22% of corporates are 'very prepared' to deliver individualised experiences

Despite many knowing and understanding the benefits of supporting Era I, legacy structures and fear of the unknown make transformation a low priority.

Why do I care?

Because, I and the company I founded, Ethical Angel are champions of Era I. As a natural non-conformist and proud dyslexic, I have always struggled with imposed structure, whether how to learn or how to live.

Like so many in school and work, I had one type of curriculum imposed upon me and my arduous relationship with it, used to judge and categorise me. My potential was being missed, my value was not recognised, my interests ignored, and like so many I walked.

Across sectors employee engagement is low - and the cost of high staff turnover and low productivity is causing trepidation in many a mostly male, white boardroom.

Soon we will all care about Era I as it comes to define the way that we interact with our work, providers and society, and in turn how they interact with us.

Ethical Angel - the plug:

We recognised the link between Era I and employee engagement and sought to build a tech-based solution to solve the inherent problem.

Essentially, the way Ethical Angel's tech works is:

1. Understand what an individual wants
2. Give it to them

We are used by some of the world's largest (and lots of the smallest) companies to match their peoples' skills and interest with real-world experiences as unique as they are.

Employees can interact, learn, express themselves, feel, develop and create an impact in the way that they want and need.

The Era of the Individual is here, and it is going to f#ck sh#i up, and we can't wait!

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Alexander is CEO of Ethical Angel, an employee engagement tool that maps, matches and measures. You can reach him by emailing: [email protected]

*'Do the dead outnumber the living?' BBC, 2012

**Oracle, The Era I Enterprise: “Ready for Anything”, 2016