The New World of Work

As I drove through my hometown, I felt like a stranger in a strange land.

I marveled at the sparkling new office complexes, restaurants, and stores.

The footprint of the Midwestern city swelled as it swallowed up farmland in a relentless urban sprawl.

So much had changed that my childhood hometown was nearly unrecognizable to me.

Yet the layout of the streets, the flow of traffic, and the pulse of commerce were unchanged.

The city’s work was still getting done—just differently.

This experience reminded me of these massive disruptions that are reshaping our workplaces.

> GEN Z
The newest generation is bringing fresh demands for autonomy, transparency, and participation. Are we ready?

> HYBRID WORK FORMAT
Some workers have begun to return to their offices but many will stay remote. How will you run a meeting where you have “10 in the room and 10 on the Zoom”?

> WORK/LIFE BOUNDARIES
Balance is out the window. Can we set and honor boundaries?

> ORGANIZATION EXOSKELETONS
How much work could you get done if I took away your contractors, gig workers, and strategic partners?

There are many other powerful forces that are shaping the new world of work, of course.

So what will get us through?

The only thing that ever has: your effective leadership.