2020 demonstrated that work evolves, whether we want to shift or not. Certainty, internal factors—job location, facilities requirement, production standards and more—impact how organizations work, but external factors—public health crises, government regulations and customer requests—have a tremendous impact on how we work.
For the past year, businesses in all industries, including construction, were forced to pivot to survive. Teams experienced a shift from office-only to remote-first work environments when possible. Social distancing, air purification, ventilation systems and other safety measures physically impact how we work. The shift to remote work due to the pandemic accelerated the virtual way we work together, which continues to snowball at an unprecedented rate. Even amid these changes, the future of work continues to change. But, what about people, the human capital of any organization? Have business owners considered what emerging skills critical for your organization’s human talent to continue thriving in the future? Have they considered ways to invest in upskilling or reskilling teams to be ready to excel?
A Glimpse into the Future of Work
We only thought leadership skills were necessary in the past; the future will prove how invaluable leadership skills are to an organization’s talent.
The World Economic Forum released The Future of Jobs (2020) report. The authors share essential insights in the report, including the continued pace of technology adoption, automated systems and workforces, and considerable skills gaps between the current workforce and the workforce needed in the next five years. When business owners reflecting on their organization, are they ready?
Leadership skills are essentials organizations to thrive in the new normal. And, leadership is at the heart of the emerging skills for team members. Prominent emerging skills for workers in the future involve:
- leadership and social influence;
- complex problem-solving;
- analytical thinking and innovation; and
- resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility.
Why is Leadership important to a business?
People do not change, nor do organizations evolve overnight (and certainly not new information). Leader development and leadership skills development take time. Development requires an investment in energy and resources. The word investment is vital to the concept. Leader development and leadership skills impact employee loyalty and retention, as well as team culture and collaboration.
Ultimately, leader development facilitates greater employee empowerment and engagement in a work context. Gallup research from It’s The Manager (2019) shows that engaged teams outperform disengaged teams by:
- 70% fewer safety incidences;
- 40% fewer defects (quality issues); and
- 20% higher sales.
Fewer safety incidences, fewer quality defects and higher sales are all critical to construction businesses.
Are teams ready for the future of work?
Now, the question is, “Is your team ready for the future of work?” Too often, folks view professional development as an expense or cost. But business owners must consider what it may cost their organization to not invest in skills development? What opportunities may organizations miss if they do not invest in upskilling and reskilling team members? Further, business owners should shift their thinking of professional development from a cost to an investment: an investment in the organization’s ability to survive and even thrive in the future work context.
Are you ready to partner with a Leadership Doctor?
Depending on the organization or context, there are various ways an external vendor may facilitate its team’s growth. Based on client needs, these vendors can create a custom strategy involving learning opportunities such as virtual courses, online training, in-person training, mentorship and even project-based development work.
The future is not waiting—start a conversation to develop your organization’s human capital today.
