Dec 4, 2016
What does the future of work look like was the focus of a recent interview I had with Rick Anthony on his Entrepreneurs Network Radio show.
Like most of our conversations, we started off with a discussion about the multi-generational workforce. And like we do so often it led off with a discussion of the Baby Boomers and Millennials. Rick started with, “What is the major shift you see occurring right now and where is it headed?”
I’m not sure Rick got the answer he was expecting. Here’s an edited version of my response:
We typically classify generations by date of birth. I wrote a book about it and you and I have talked about it. So have a lot of other people. And whether it's the Baby Boomer, Generation X, or Millennial Generation, these cohorts span 15 or 20 years before another cohort is defined. During each time span trends change and events happen. Each generation is indelibly stamped by them. When I wrote Geeks, Geezers and Googlization and even more so after it was published, I started to see a shift in how we describe generations. It wasn't so much an age dependent demographic as much as it was maybe a technology dependent demographic. I’ve begun to look across those generational time spans and talk about more about the Wired and the Tired. For more, click here.
We then moved onto to other related topics such as:
- Why do we have such a shortage of skilled workers if the Millennials and Gen Z are so wired.?
- What effect will robots, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) have on the work, jobs, and future generations of workers/
- How career planning is becoming an activity filled with disappointment….but a better approach is available.
- And what one recommendation did I have for entrepreneurs and start-ups?
More Resources:
Video
Accelerate Work: Why Human Need Not Apply
TEDs Talk: Make Change Work for You
White Paper/Book Preview: When the Shift Hits Your Plan