Emerging Workplace Trends: Are We Entering an Era of Organizational Disruption? | Aaron McEwan
Oct 8, 2024
auto_awesome
Aaron McEwan, a behavioral scientist and futurist at Gartner, dives into the seismic shifts in the workplace post-pandemic. He highlights the importance of market sensing to identify emerging trends and social movements, emphasizing how unprepared companies can falter. Aaron also explores the rise of employee activism fuelled by social media, and discusses innovative strategies like treating employees as customers to enhance engagement. With insights into rapid response teams, he reveals how organizations can turn challenges into opportunities for growth.
The pandemic has fundamentally changed the employer-employee relationship, leading to greater demands for autonomy and work-life balance among workers.
Gartner's Rapid Response Market Sensing Team exemplifies the importance of early detection in anticipating shifts, enabling organizations to prepare proactively for disruptions.
The rise of social media-driven employee activism signals a shift in workplace dynamics, requiring companies to adapt to increasing employee empowerment and collective dissatisfaction.
Deep dives
Post-Pandemic Workforce Dynamics
The workforce is currently facing unprecedented levels of change fatigue and trust issues as organizations push for a return to the office despite employee reluctance. Many employees are grappling with the lingering effects of the pandemic, leading to a reevaluation of their work-life balance. This presents organizations with an opportunity to rethink their approach to work by treating it as a product that requires design and attention to employee satisfaction. By viewing employees as customers, companies can better address their needs and reshape the future of work.
Market Sensing and Early Detection
The rapid response market sensing team at Gartner serves as an early detection system, monitoring signals to anticipate trends and disruptions in the workforce. Their work began during the pandemic when they identified early signs of COVID-19's escalation from China, allowing them to advise clients on remote work processes. The team's mission is to amplify quiet signals that may lead to significant workforce shifts, ensuring companies can respond effectively to emerging challenges. This proactive approach demonstrates the importance of being attuned to market dynamics and preparing for future disruptions.
Geopolitical and Technological Disruptions
Recent global events, such as the war in Ukraine, highlight the interconnectedness of geopolitical conflicts and technological disruptions faced by organizations. As companies in Ukraine faced operational challenges, some sought private security to evacuate employees, illustrating the complexities of managing workforce logistics in crises. The conflict's impact extended to the tech industry, particularly regarding the outsourcing of skills in machine learning and AI, raising concerns about cybersecurity and workforce safety. Such instances underline the necessity for businesses to remain agile and aware of external factors that could affect their operations.
Emerging Employee Activism
There is a noticeable shift towards social media-driven employee activism, where workers express their dissatisfaction and collective concerns online. Recent trends show an increase in resentfulness among employees who feel exhausted and underappreciated, leading to movements reminiscent of the Great Resignation and quiet quitting. This newfound empowerment allows employees to coordinate actions independently, posing both a risk and an opportunity for employers. Companies must be prepared to address these changes to maintain employee engagement and mitigate potential disruptions.
The Future of Work and Employee Empowerment
The pandemic has prompted a fundamental reevaluation of the employer-employee relationship, pushing workers to demand greater autonomy and work-life balance. Employees are increasingly likely to view their contributions through the lens of customer engagement, seeking organizations that align with their values and personal needs. Consequently, companies are reevaluating their corporate policies and practices to create a more supportive environment for their workforce. This shift emphasizes the importance of understanding employee perspectives as organizations navigate the evolving landscape of work.
If there’s one thing the pandemic taught us, it’s that market disruptions can spell disaster for unprepared companies. Aaron McEwan, a behavioral scientist and futurist, is at the forefront of this challenge. As part of Gartner’s Rapid Response Market Sensing Team, he specializes in identifying workplace shifts before they happen. In this episode, Aaron shares how he leverages insights from his career and lessons learned during the pandemic to identify and tackle workplace shifts – before they happen.
Aaron McEwan is a prominent behavioral scientist, psychologist, and futurist based in Australia. He currently is the Vice President of Research & Advisory for Gartner's HR Practice, providing strategic insights on talent management and the future of work to leading global companies.
In this episode, Dart and Aaron discuss: - Gartner’s Rapid Response Market Sensing Team - Market sensing and identifying trends - The largest market challenges since the pandemic - Social movements that are starting to bubble - Social media-driven employee activism - Early detection of workforce disruptions - Rapid responses to opportunities and threats - Signals of reemergent labor activism - And other topics…
Aaron McEwan is a prominent behavioral scientist, psychologist, and futurist based in Australia. He currently serves as the Vice President of Research & Advisory for Gartner's HR Practice, providing strategic insights on talent management and the future of work to leading global companies. Recognized as a Top 100 Global HR Influencer, Aaron emphasizes evidence-based practices that help organizations optimize performance and adapt to changing work environments.
Aaron is also a Fellow of the Australian Human Resources Institute and an Associate of Macquarie University's Centre for Workforce Futures. He has lectured at several universities, including the University of NSW and the University of Queensland. His interdisciplinary approach often draws from his background in music, where he performed and wrote original pieces, applying lessons from that experience to leadership and teamwork in organizational settings.
Work with Dart: Dart is the CEO and co-founder of the work design firm 11fold. Build work that makes employees feel alive, connected to their work, and focused on what’s most important to the business. Book a call at 11fold.com.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
