The Future is Now

The world has changed a lot in the last 20 months. And all of this change has rightly gotten everyone thinking and talking about the future of work. Where will we work, when we will work, how will we work, and will it all work? There is understandable uncertainty about those questions. But now isn’t the time to hesitate and stare motionless into the future, waiting. The future is now. The questions are real but waiting for 100% certainty is folly. It is time to stop waiting and start moving. And we want to help.

Where to Look

Too often, people look to the future with a blank stare at a blank sheet of paper. The future will be different, but human nature changes little. We can learn much about the future by looking at history first. Ask yourself questions like:

• What do humans do in times of change?
• What do they want?
• How do they interact with each other?

By considering the past, we set ourselves up to better see into the future. The big point is this – while context and tools might change, not everything will change. Look for the past patterns to help you determine the direction of the future.

How to Look

In our personal lives, we are often advised to focus more on the journey than the destination. I would give you the same advice now. The exact end-state of the future of work is unknown. Besides, when are you defining the end? Are you trying to determine for your organization or team, or make a more global prediction?

Rather than focusing on a fantasy end-point, look at the trends and where they are pointing you.  That is a more productive and helpful way to move into the future. Remember, the future is now.

What to Do Now

Here is what you shouldn’t do now – nothing. Now is the time to be proactive about the future of work. That action can include:

• Surveying changes in the past and how they played out.
• Looking for lessons and insights from the past 20 months that might be useful.
• Observing what people are doing today.
• Talking with your team, colleagues, vendors, and customers about what they want or need in the future.
• Moving forward by making decisions that can be adjusted as needed, rather than treating them like concrete fixtures.