Creating diverse workplaces helps mitigate bias and brings in fresh perspectives.
Rethinking education is essential to prepare individuals for the future work environment.
Flexibility, inclusivity, and addressing inequalities are crucial in the post-pandemic workplace.
Deep dives
Importance of Balancing Human Risk and Human Reward in the Workplace
The podcast episode explores the concept of balancing human risk and human reward in the workplace. The host discusses how focusing solely on human risk can lead to missed opportunities for encouraging human reward, and vice versa. The challenge facing employers and society is to find a balance that allows them to get the best out of people while mitigating the risks they pose. One way to achieve this is by creating more diverse workplaces, as diversity brings in fresh perspectives and helps mitigate biases. The episode introduces the Inclusion Initiative at LSE, highlighting the importance of inclusion in building inclusive environments and addressing skills for the future.
The Need to Rethink Education and Skills for the Future of Work
The podcast episode emphasizes the need to rethink education and skills in the context of the future of work. It discusses how the traditional education system may not adequately prepare individuals for the skills required in the 21st century. The importance of adaptability, decision-making, and creativity is highlighted, as well as the need to foster a mindset of questioning and challenging ideas. The episode suggests that companies and the education system should focus on developing these critical skills to help individuals thrive in a rapidly changing work environment.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Gender Equality and Workplace Dynamics
The podcast episode examines the impact of COVID-19 on gender equality and workplace dynamics. It discusses how the pandemic has disproportionately affected women, leading to a higher rate of exit from the labor market due to increased responsibilities at home. The episode highlights the need for flexibility and inclusivity in the workplace, especially in the post-pandemic era. It also acknowledges the importance of understanding the differential impacts on different groups, such as women and people of color, and the need to address these inequalities within organizations.
The Importance of Constant Learning and Personal Development in the Workplace
Continuous learning and personal development are essential for success in the evolving job market. Employees need to invest time and effort in improving their skills and how they work with others. Just as machinery is maintained to maximize its performance, employees should be cared for and provided with the necessary tools to navigate the changing landscape. This responsibility falls not only on companies but also on individuals. Norms in the workplace often promote conformity and hinder diversity. Annual appraisals and predefined criteria assess individual performance based on predetermined norms. Challenging these norms and fostering a culture of constant improvement is necessary to meet the demands of the 21st century.
The Role of Social Skills in the Future of Work
Social skills, alongside cognitive skills, are becoming increasingly important in the modern workplace. Effective communication, collaboration, empathy, negotiation, and coaching are critical for addressing complex challenges and fostering an inclusive environment. The lack of human interaction during the pandemic highlighted the need for social skills to maintain creativity, productivity, and overall employee satisfaction. Traditional hierarchical structures and processes often discourage challenge, criticism, and uncertainty, hindering necessary adaptation and growth. Organizations must rethink their physical infrastructure, meeting structures, and incentivization to foster dynamics that embrace diversity, conflict, and creativity. Recognizing the complexity and embracing change are key to building inclusive and successful work environments.
What skills do people need to succeed in the 21st century? On this episode, I’m speaking to Cecily Josten. I’m speaking to Cecily Josten. She’s a Fellow at the Inclusion Initiative from the London School of Economics that explores how we can use Behavioural Science to make workplaces more inclusive.
Cecily’s areas of interest include the skills of the future and the future of work — how can we measure inclusion? — what determines success?
