The world of work is undergoing some pretty huge changes. Most employees are already enjoying greater connectivity, collaboration and flexibility. And many are worrying about the impact of AI and the economy.
As the workplace evolves, so the workforce needs to evolve. And HR is fast becoming the strategic function that drives this evolution. The HR team of the future will be expected to drive organizational success by teaching the business how to empower its employees.
Automation, artificial intelligence, and other technological changes mean that, for the workforce of the future:
Continuous learning will be the norm. To make the most of the innovation and customer experience opportunities offered by new technology, employees need continuous education. Ideally this learning will take the form of short video and interactive modules that are online and mobile-optimized. Learning will become as important for everyone as it currently is for professional services firms.
Inclusion and equality are data driven. Millennials and Generation Z have little patience for inequality. Businesses are increasingly turning to technology to implement and track diversity and inclusion success.
Employee feedback is instant. Real-time feedback is the holy grail of employee performance management, and it’s something that Millennials and Generation Z prize. In the near future we’ll see more organizations using technology to create instant, transparent and actionable feedback so that employees can perform at their best.
What does the future-ready HR team look like?
To create this new world for your workforce, you need to start upskilling your HR team today. Here are three areas worth considering:
Technology. Is your team thinking about how their colleagues in IT can help streamline things like corporate training and performance reviews? Do they know about all the fantastic technology that can help them streamline, automate and connect various HR processes?
Data and analytics skills. Adopting a data-driven approach is going to become very important as HR teams play a bigger role in driving business strategy. Marketing teams have already had to adopt this mindset, so talking to your company’s CMO might be helpful.
Strategic and commercial understanding. Does your team understand where your organization is going? How are you ensuring that your workforce has the necessary skills to get there? What type of people should you be hiring and promoting?
It’s time for HR leaders to show what they’re made of
It’s an exciting time to be an HR leader – but only if you and your HR team are prepared to step out of your comfort zone and boldly lead your organization and its workforce into the future.