1. Four ideas that will change the future of work – Forbes
One of the trends of the year has been mainstream think pieces on the effect of automation on the world of work, contrasting with articles from insiders pointing out that people remain irreplaceable for a whole range of roles. In this article for Forbes, Jonquil Hackenberg explains how greater flexibility, talent re-skilling and fluid operating models are vital to getting the most out of the tech-enabled workplace of the future.
2. At work, expertise is falling out of favour – The Atlantic
This one is ideal for when you have a bit of downtime over the holidays. It’s about the US Navy but its conclusions are applicable to a changing workplace. The piece explains how the qualities we’ve typically looked for in employees – conscientiousness, dedication and tenacity – are not necessarily the ideal ones for working environments with “rapidly changing rules and roles”. We’re going to need to look for people who are comfortable in ambiguous environments, where they need to learn as they go.