Working environment and processes are going through significant changes. Digitization, technological advancements, pandemic, political division and economic crisis has increased uncertainty and has had huge impact to us. Same goes with private and public personnel service industry. For example work is more flexible, remote work has come part of normal, AI and machine learning are tools for many companies.
What will be needed from future leaders? DDI´s Global Leadership Forecast 2021 is the largest leadership study of its kind. It reveals key trends for future. Future leaders need to learn new skill and have ability to adapt to changes quickly (Neal, Boatman & Watt 2021).
Top trends that impact my working environment
Advancing digital future of work. We are multicultural workplace, we have several offices around Finland, job appliers and workers all around the world. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are becoming more important tools in the personnel service industry, helping organizations automate processes such as candidate screening, skill assessments, and candidate matching . There is different levels how this digitization shows in my work. Nowadays there is so many innovating ideas how to handle these HR issues in digital world, that it would be important to jump aboard. It seems that the whole world is speeding up with super-fast internet.
Digital transformation helps companies build work spaces and tasks that allow remote workers to be effective. Most of us are now more ready then before pandemic, it forced people to accept and adapt changing work environment. Public services in employment field are going through change, their services are competitioned with private sector. Also other coverment offices are trying to get their services online, competitioners have more digital services and AI helping them with daily work.
At VPS we should be more upto date with digital future of work. Our employees are mainly in productive work, that is hand made, but we could spice up our own digital environment. In my work I try to be aware of changes around us and adjust and learn about these as smoothly as possible. VPS should build strategic vision for a new future and start building unified team to go towards these goals. I am studying master´s degree and keeping myself involved to these matters. When it comes to leading virtual teams,we don´t have any specific guidelines and rules for these. Sometimes employees working for client companies might feel that they don´t get support they need. Also digital skills among our employees vary.
Craving Connection in a virtual Workplace – Person to Person interaction is happening less and less. I can see how quickly it has tremendous affect how loyal they stay to our company. As a leader, it is essential to communicate with your team regularly. Clear and open communication builds trust and your team will be working towards same goals. A positive work environment promotes productivity, creativity, and employee happiness. Encourage, recognize and reward their efforts. Encourage employees to collaborate, praise their work and provide constructive feedback. If there is problems , be proactive, identify risks and work on them with your team. You can earn respect and trust from your team if you keep them updated .
Future leaders –according to GLF 2021 we are lacking of potential future leaders. I agree. Many companies would answer to this differently but I look at this also as business opporturnity. HR services are used more and we have possibility to search and tain these promising future talents. It is good to stay tuned for what features are most valued in future leaders. Expectations from both sides client companies looking for leaders and future leader appliers have more variety or different expectations then they used to have. Personnel service companies could be able to help matching and even growing future leaders. Many companies own bench strength is weak. I believe in emphasing values like diversity and inclusion are important in recruitment and selection processes, emphasing soft skills are also future leaders features. There is pressure to develop and retain top talents. HR professionals agree that identifying and developing future talent continues to be challenge in the future.
Overall, the personnel service industry is has to adapt to new trends, and those that do it successful will be the best companies that will be successful in the coming years. Facing new crisis, with new skills and ability to keep learning, will be needed from leaders, change is inevitable.
References
Neal, Stephanie, Boatman, Jazmine, Rhyne, Rosey, Yeh, Mindy & Watt, Bruce 2023Global Leadership Forecast 2023 https://www.ddiworld.com/global-leadership-forecast-2023
Neal, Stephanie, Boatman, Jazmine & Watt, Bruce 2021. Global Leadership Forecast 2021 https://www.ddiworld.com/global-leadership-forecast-2021
Larson, Barbara, Vroman, Susan, Makarius, Erin 2020. A guide to managing your (newly) remote workers. https://hbr.org/2020/03/a-guide-to-managing-your-newly-remote-workers