Why Change-Resistant Leadership Doesn't Suit the Future of Work
A recent Australian Psychological Society (APS) survey shows that while?78% of leaders?think they are preparing their employees well for the future of work (e.g. embracing new technology and work methods), only?53% of employees?agree that is the case. (1)
As a result, the APS says the future of work requires organisations to?develop strong leadership.
“Good leadership is important and will play a pivotal role in the successful future of the Australian workplace with the rise of remote workers, generation gaps, and rapid globalisation.”
The Futureproofing the World of Work survey saw nearly 30% describing their workplace as “unnecessarily bureaucratic,” 21% as “cautious,” and 17% as “change-resistant.”
Let's?briefly look at why that?won't?work in the future.
Future leaders
Ultimately, the future of work lies with our future leaders - and their willingness to keep learning.
83% of businesses agree that?leadership development?is?important?at every level. eYt, 69% of likely emerging leaders - millennials - feel a lack of leadership development. (2)
High-performing managers are 4?times more likely to retain employees?than low-performing managers.
As we will see later, leadership development is critical for healthy workplaces.
Meanwhile, leadership skills will be discussed in a 3-part leadership development program beginning Wednesday, 28th May 2024:?Colleen Callander and Shannah Kennedy – Elevate your skills in life, leadership and?longevity.
Courageous leadership
One thing is certain in the future of work. There will be continual change.
According to Kyle Hermans CEO and co-founder of Be Courageous, the change process takes courage.
Kyle says moments of courage are needed “to stand for what is right, to unlearn, to reimagine systems of the past, and to create a future more important than our past.”
(He will talk more about this in his live virtual masterclass Courageous Minds, Decisive Action on Wednesday 5th June 2024).
Meanwhile, Dare to Lead author Dr Brene Brown says the greatest barrier to courageous leadership is not fear, it’s how we respond to fear.
As Kylie Lewis , a Certified Facilitator of Dare to Lead? teaches in her masterclass, this shows up as:
Such behaviours have no place in the future workplace where most of the workforce in 2030 will be Millennials (Gen Y) and Gen Z.
Generation gaps
PwC points out that the disruption caused by Covid-19 defines Gen Z’s outlook. They’re well-suited to dynamic, fast-changing environments, opportunities, and challenges.
However, they may not readily cultivate meaningful in-person relationships or respond to feedback in the same way other generations do. Stress and anxiety may trigger responses like low morale and absenteeism, says PwC.
Taking workplaces into the future will require braver leadership, says Kylie Lewis.
The leadership coach and tech entrepreneur says high-performing workplaces are a direct result of high-quality interpersonal relationships and a psychologically safe culture .
Psychological safety
Psychological safety is the key foundation stone for workplaces in the future.
Yet 20% of respondents felt their employer cared “little” or “not at all” about their wellbeing. (APS/Curtin University)
The Australian Psychological Society (APS) says that a culturally sensitive organisation is better able to get employee support when making changes necessary to face the future.
“When we think about the future of work, people often think about AI or skills training, but the future of work is also about designing and maintaining sustainable workloads and protecting employees' wellbeing," says Dr Zena Burgess, CEO of the Australian Psychological Society (APS).
“It’s clear that much more needs to be done to improve psychological safety in the workplace, regardless of where or how you work,” she says.
The APS says previous studies show that organisations that invest in workplace mental health can see a return between $2.30 to $5 for each dollar invested.
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6 must-dos for the future health of your organisation
Based on its recent Australian Workplace Survey findings, APS recommends organisations:
The Psychology Society also stresses the importance of preparing employees for the future through skill development, embracing technology, and fostering a learning environment.
Innovation
What about innovation in the future, with so many of us working hybrid or remote?
45% of surveyed desk workers say brainstorming is more productive in the office.(3)
However, new research by Columbia Business School business professor Sheena Iyengar suggests brainstorming itself is outdated.
The author of the new book “Think Bigger: How to Innovate” prefers a step-by-step process of ideation/innovation:
We will hold a 45-minute Q&A with Sheena Iyengar on Wednesday, 17th July 2024, to discuss her book Think Bigger, and advancements in innovation technique.
Unreasonable hospitality
One less considered aspect of the future of work is our ever-evolving relationship with clients and customers.
According to renowned restaurateur Will Guidara , the future will go beyond being a service economy to becoming a hospitality economy.
“People are craving connection more than ever,” he told McKinsey & Co in an interview. “Making good products is no longer enough, servicing them efficiently is no longer enough.
“It’s how people are made to feel that’s starting to matter most of all.”
Will believes empowering employees and creative autonomy are two ideal components of a great culture.
“I think it’s everything [when] you want people to bring their most fully realised selves to the work.”
Will is our Headliner speaker in a live virtual event Creating Customer-Centric Cultures on Wednesday, 31st July 2024.
Technology
“AI will be ubiquitous, and we need a trained workforce who can discover and design, evaluate and translate new AI technologies.” - Professor Svetha Venkatesh, Deakin University
Of course, the future of work will be strongly impacted by artificial intelligence (AI).
Surveyed desk workers who adopt AI at work are 53% more likely to report higher levels of productivity than those who haven’t, and 27% said that they use AI today (3)
A new report believes that not enough. It shows more use of AI could add a short-term boost of $200 billion a year to the Australian economy.(4)
Yet it’s not without risks. Net101 founder Tim Martin will explain more at his live virtual masterclass Risks and Rewards of Generative AI at Work on Wednesday 26th June 2024.
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References:
(1) Futureproofing the world of work 2023, APS
(2) "35+ Powerful Leadership Statistics 2023: Things All Aspiring Leaders Should Know", June 2023, Zippia.com .
(3) March 2023, Slack and Qualtrics survey of 18,000 desk workers
(4) John Mangan, 2024, Australia’s AI Imperative: The economic impact of artificial intelligence and what’s needed to further its growth, Kingston AI Group
Great insights and thanks for using our research!