SPOS #956 – Ravin Jesuthasan On The Future Of Work
Nov 3, 2024
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Ravin Jesuthasan, a global thought leader and Senior Partner at Mercer, discusses the evolving landscape of work. He highlights the urgent need to shift from traditional job roles to skills-based models, stressing that skills are now the new currency of work. Jesuthasan shares insights on how AI is revolutionizing industries like healthcare and finance, while emphasizing the importance of continuous re-skilling. He also explores the changing work culture, advocating for empathetic leadership and the prioritization of transferable skills in a post-pandemic world.
Organizations must transition from traditional job-based structures to skills-based models to remain agile in an evolving work landscape.
The rapid evolution of AI necessitates ongoing reskilling and a cultural shift towards continuous learning within organizations.
Deep dives
Accessible Thought Leadership
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The Transformation of Work Post-COVID
The discussion highlights the significant shifts in the workplace that have emerged since the onset of COVID-19, pointing to a paradigm shift in how work is conceptualized. Professionals are currently navigating a complex landscape marked by tensions around returning to office environments and the implementation of advanced technologies like AI. The emergence of generative AI is reshaping job structures and work processes, requiring organizations to adapt to new methodologies of engagement and productivity. This transformation illustrates that the nature of work has fundamentally altered, necessitating new strategies for effective collaboration and execution.
AI's Reshaping of Job Roles
AI is being utilized to improve the efficiency of various sectors, such as healthcare and financial services, by redesigning job functions and responsibilities. In healthcare, AI applications help streamline communication and support patient care, enabling medical professionals to focus more on critical tasks that require human expertise. Similarly, in finance, AI reduces processing times significantly and allows skilled workers to engage directly with clients for a more personalized service. These implementations show how AI can both enhance productivity and shift the dynamics of job roles within organizations.
The Future Necessity of Continuous Learning
As AI rapidly evolves, there is an increasing demand for ongoing reskilling and upskilling to keep workers relevant in a changing job market. Employers are challenged to integrate learning into the workflow, providing employees with the necessary resources and support to adapt to new technologies. This shift requires a cultural reexamination of how organizations view work-life balance, emphasizing the importance of continuous development over static traditional roles. The critical dialogue centers on how to allocate gains from increased efficiencies in ways that enable employees to grow their skills while contributing effectively to their organizations.
Welcome to episode #956 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast.
Ravin Jesuthasan is a global thought leader, futurist, and bestselling author who has dedicated his career to exploring the future of work, AI, and workforce transformation. As the Senior Partner and Global Leader for Transformation Services at Mercer, he has collaborated with some of the world's most influential organizations to help them navigate the rapidly changing landscape of work. Ravin has led significant research projects for the World Economic Forum, focusing on topics like digital media's impact on society, talent strategies in the fourth industrial revolution, and redefining the value of human capital in the new world of work. In this conversation, Ravin delves into his latest book, The Skills-Powered Organization - The Journey To The Next Generation Enterprise that he co-authord with Tanuj Kapilashrami (check out his other five books). He emphasizes that as AI, climate change, and geopolitical conflicts reshape our world, there's an urgent need for organizations to transition from traditional job-based structures to skills-based models. This shift isn't just a minor adjustment - it requires rethinking how work is organized and how talent connects to it. By focusing on skills as the new currency of work, organizations can become more agile, resilient, and adaptable. Ravin shares compelling examples of how AI is already transforming industries like healthcare and financial services. As AI takes over more technical tasks, transferable skills - like empathy, creativity, and critical thinking become increasingly important. The Skills-Powered Organization serves as a practical guide for leaders looking to navigate this transition. Ravin provides a step-by-step roadmap, discussing critical organizational capabilities, the transformative changes required, and the role of AI in accelerating this journey. He also examines how this shift enables a more seamless talent ecosystem, blending various types of employee and non-employee labor. Whether you're a leader seeking to future-proof your organization or an individual aiming to stay relevant in a rapidly changing job market, Ravin's insights offer valuable guidance on embracing the next generation of work. Enjoy the conversation...