What will workplaces be like in the next decade? Gwen Moran attempted to answer that question in a Feb. 4 Fast Company article. Below are five factors predicted to change the workplace in years to come.
Teams will be more diverse and inclusive than ever.
A shortage of knowledge workers will force businesses to look at different regions or demographic segments for employees, according to the article. These new teams may have different backgrounds and communication preferences. Technology will help those who live in different time zones collaborate.
Being an effective communicator is going to be tougher.
Our current workspaces don’t encourage employees to cultivate communication skills, the article said. And, in a decade, being an effective communicator will mean using voice, text, video and virtual reality equally well.
The trust factor will be trickier.
“As artificial intelligence and machine leaning permeate virtually every area of work, employers will have access to a great deal more data about employees, productivity and work patterns,” Moran wrote. “This transparency will allow employers to find ways to improve productivity, such as providing training in areas where employees seem to be struggling. However, such data also will lead to new concerns about privacy and trust.”
Employers will need to be transparent about the data collected and how it will be used, she added.
Workers always will be upskilling.
With artificial intelligence and machine learning taking over some roles in workplaces, employees want employers to commit to training them so they can fill new roles, the article said.
Effective workspaces may make offices popular again.
With open office floorplans receiving negative reviews, companies are expected to create more private spaces and workstations that promote concentrated thinking.
“If technology develops as expected and is used properly, inclusion, trust and investment in employees will drive workplace culture in a decade,” Moran wrote. “Employers will need to embrace transparency and build long-term relationships with employees to create cultures employees seek out and don’t want to leave.”
