The Future-proof Workplace

The Future-Proof Workplace is a survival guide for the new realities of business. The future is no longer some far-off destination; it is here, right now, and already changing the way we work. Historically, the sea-changes have advanced humanity and inspired us to reach even further; from the Dark Ages to the Age of Enlightenment, from agrarian to industrial societies—and today is no different. But only those who are ready for the changes will come out thriving. This book highlights the changes already taking place around us: the transition from skills to knowledge, the neuroscience approach to leadership and motivation, galloping technical advances, and more. Whether you're a CEO, a leader or manager, or just trying to survive the chaos, this invaluable guide is your wake-up call—the future is now.

The new forces emerging must be understood now if your organization is to succeed. This book details the transformation every business must make to turn upheaval into opportunity.

• Discover how emerging technologies and neuroscience research are already impacting the way we work
• Learn how yesterday's biases are being replaced by modern values, culture, and relationships
• Consider the "heart" of your organization, and whether it can stand up to the purpose-driven paradigm of the future
• Find new achievement in the new organizational structure, and examine models that are already emerging

Everyone knows that changes are needed—and fast. The question is: which changes, and how? The Future-Proof Workplace maps the transformation, and gives you an itinerary for each step of the way.

DR. LINDA SHARKEY is a Founding Member of the Marshall Goldsmith Group, a premier executive coaching organization. Her clients include Boeing, GE, NetApp, Sodexo, Key Bank, Sanofi, and Lexis Nexis.

MORAG BARRETT is CEO of SkyeTeam, an international leadership development company. At last count Morag has worked with more than 3,000 leaders in 20 countries, including Google, Scholastic, Microsoft, DexMedia, Topgolf, Level 3 Communications, and Denver Art Museum.

Foreword Marshall Goldsmith xv

Chapter 1 Surviving and Thriving in Turbulence 1

Today, Not Tomorrow 2

Waves of Change 2

Digitization and Change 4

Changing Demographics 5

Globalization Is Now 6

Shock and Awe 7

Six Factors of Change 8

Looking Ahead 17

The Future Happened Yesterday 18

Chapter 2 Leadership: Leading the Future 21

An Old Brand of Leadership 22

Self-Focused Leadership 23

Greed 24

The Consequences 26

Twenty-First-Century Leadership 27

The Privilege of Leadership 28

Personal Values Create Company Values 28

Defining Values 31

Leaders with Heart 32

A Decision to Lead 37

Future-Proof Your Company 39

Future-Proof Your Career 40

Chapter 3 Culture: The Key for Innovation and Speed 41

What’s the Difference? 41

Culture and the Customer 43

The Evolution of Culture 45

Understanding Culture 46

Fast-Forward Culture 47

The Values and Culture Connection 48

Bringing Culture to Light 49

How Do You Create a Culture That Hums? 55

Hard Choices 56

Leading a Future-Proof Culture 57

Future-Proof Your Company 59

Future-Proof Your Career 60

Chapter 4 Purpose: Navigating Turbulent Waters 61

Mission and Vision 62

What Are We Building? 64

Purpose 67

Purpose Is Inspiring 68

The Power of Purpose 69

Purpose and People 71

Banking on Purpose 72

Future-Proof Your Company 75

Future-Proof Your Career 76

Chapter 5 Relationships: Our Connected Future 77

A Tale of Two Parts: Morag’s Story 79

Relationship with Work 81

Work in the Future-Past 83

Career Lattice 85

Relationship with Employer 88

Relationship with Colleagues 90

Relationship with Cultures 92

Relationship with the Community 93

Relationship with Our Network 94

Balancing Is No Act 96

Future-Proof Your Company 98

Future-Proof Your Career 99

Chapter 6 Diversity and Inclusion: Future Inclusion 101

Sea Change 102

The Facts about Women 103

Stereotyping Is Personal 105

When Bias Seems Pragmatic 107

Brain Science, Bias, and Diversity 109

Stereotyping and Personal Beliefs 111

Vicious Cycles 112

Bias in the Mirror 112

Rewiring Inclusion 114

Taking Action 115

Future-Proof Your Company 116

Future-Proof Your Career 117

Chapter 7 Technology: Resistance Is Futile 119

Technology the Disrupter and Enabler 121

Data Is Big 122

Genuine Intelligence 125

Uploading into Society 127

What’s Your Response Time? 129

Future Workforce 131

Changing Identities 132

Everything Is Connected and Transparent 135

Personal Impact 136

Your Reality 137

Catching the Wave 139

Future-Proof Your Company 141

Future-Proof Your Career 142

Chapter 8 Learning: Curious Learners 143

The Hare and the Tortoise 144

Welcome to the Nano-Degree 146

Curiosity in the Driver’s Seat 147

Introducing the “T” Learner 150

Soft Skills Finally Take Center Stage 152

Collecting Credentials Instead of Certificates 153

Are You Learning Agile? 155

Modernizing Talent Management 155

The Old Days of Too Young 156

We Can’t Afford a Training Budget 157

Learning Is a Contact Sport 158

Build a Learning Culture 158

A Global Learning Mind-Set 161

Content Curation and Knowledge Management 162

Throw Out the HR Rule Book 163

Performance Management Becomes the

Performance Moment 165

Rewrite the Training Policies 166

We All Want to Learn 167

Future-Proof Your Company 168

Future-Proof Your Career 169

Chapter 9 Workspace: The Future-Proof Workspace 171

Time to Take Back the Key to the Executive Washroom 172

Down with the Cubicle Farm 172

It Takes More than a Ping-Pong Table 174

From Water Coolers to Watering Holes 175

Anytime, Anywhere 176

From Corporate Campus to Community Campus 178

Designing for Wellness 179

Social and Environmental Responsibility 180

What Can You Transform Today? 180

Future-Proof Your Company 182

Future-Proof Your Career 183

Chapter 10 Future-Proof Workplace: Waves of Change 185

The Human Wave 187

Leading the Future 188

Culture Determines Innovation and Speed 190

Navigating with Purpose 191

Our Relational Future 192

Future Inclusion 192

Resistance Is Futile—Technology 193

Curious Learners 194

The Future-Proof Workspace 194

Work Matters 195

Tidal Waves 196

Overwhelmed? 198

The Future 198

Follow Our Three Es 199

Notes 201

Acknowledgments 205

Welcome to the Future of Work 207

About the Authors 209

Also by the Authors 211

Index 217

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