WELCOME TO THE NEW AGE OF WORK

The world of work is always evolving. As founders, we face a perpetually changing landscape and a fair amount of uncertainty about what the future holds — not just for our businesses, but for society as a whole. However, this future isn’t entirely unknown, and it might be taking shape sooner than you think. 

I believe that we’re moving into a new age of work. Right now, we’re living in the Age of Information, which I refer to as Work 7.0, but we’re already transitioning into the Age of Understanding, or Work 8.0. Eventually, we will move into the Age of Self-Actualization, or (you guessed it) Work 9.0. These different eras are marked by priorities, cultural norms, technologies, and many other defining factors. Due to the global effects of COVID-19, humanity’s evolution from Work 7.0 to 8.0 has been accelerated. The pandemic upended not just the way we work but also the way we live. It’s made us reflect on what and who really matters in our lives, especially as innovations like artificial intelligence allow us to be more productive than ever before. 

Read more in: Is AI Just a Temptation That Will Lead Us Astray?

It’s important to understand this shift from the Age of Information to the Age of Understanding in order to a) create a product or service that appeals to today’s marketplace, and b) build a resilient, humane company so that your teams can focus, align, and thrive.

PERSPECTIVES

“The future depends on what you do today.” — Mahatma Gandhi

“It’s not just the ‘where’ you work; it's the ‘how’ you work. It's the ‘why’ you work at this point. That's the future.” ― Joseph Sangregorio

MARK MY WORDS

We’re all tired of companies peppering social posts or emails with the phrase “In these unprecedented times…” However, as overused as it is, there is truth to this statement. I believe that we’re all deeply trying to understand this moment in history, and I think we can partially achieve this through our relationships. 

Of course, this includes our professional or workplace relationships. This is why organizations must be cognizant of current and future cultural shifts, such as those we’ve seen with the Age of Understanding. In order to run a successful company, you need the right people working with you — and the truth is that nobody wants to work for a company whose Vision feels outdated or disconnected from the world they live in.

So, as we gradually settle into Work 8.0, what comes next? Founders and visionaries are wise to keep an eye on the horizon, whether they’d like to be early adopters of the changes to come or just stay in the habit of always thinking ahead. For ambitious founders, my upcoming book Work 9.0: The Evolution of Work might be just the resource you’re looking for. You can find more details about Work 9.0 on the blog linked above and on Ninety’s website. 

The future of work is never entirely clear, but one thing is for sure: Organizations that choose to grow and evolve with the times will always have an advantage over those that resist or refuse to do so.

STAY TUNED

Goals are an integral part of your organization's Vision. In this episode, I’m covering the importance of setting different types of goals that all work together to guide processes and maintain a thriving culture.