[Employers] are all looking for the same kind of people — people who not only have the critical thinking skills to do the value-adding jobs that technology can’t, but also people who can invent, adapt and reinvent their jobs every day, in a market that changes faster than ever. Tom Friedman, 7/12/11]
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Succeeding in today’s global, fast-changing employment market requires a consulting mentality. Traditionally, recent graduates entered the labor market with a “football” mind-set – start from your own goal line and go down the field. As people aged, they expected to move towards the goal by climbing the corporate ladder. Organizational charts were fixed, just like football fields’ dimensions.
This strategy does not work for today’s world. From corporate finance to consumer products, most goods and services are available worldwide. Political demonstrators communicate via Facebook, instant messaging, and U Tube.
Spurred on by an ever growing, technology-savvy adult population and the recent challenging economic environment, businesses are rapidly revising their business models to maximize what technology affords them. The result: meeting younger customers’ expectations and reduced operating expenses, a double win. Continue reading…
The pace of change in the labor market is accelerating. The content and nature of jobs are rapidly evolving, reflecting 21st century world dynamics. Many positions that people will hold in 25 years have not been created yet. Today’s employment market looks radically different than it did 20 years ago. To thrive, managers and individuals must anticipate, and respond to, developments as they unfold.
From the individual perspective, people must constantly maintain their “employability” – growing their skill sets and maintaining their contacts. A robust network is essential for finding future employment Continue reading…
The recession jolted our nation at its very core. Like a tidal wave crashing to shore, it cast a dirty cloud of fear and gloom on the American persona. Ask anybody, “What concerns you most about your career and the state of business today?” The responses I hear reflect worry, anger and disapproval – with only a glimmer of optimism.
“In this economy, everything is a concern,” said a young professional about to launch his career. Others reply: “I’m concerned about negative attitudes, a lack of consumer credit, and the severe shortage of jobs.” Continue reading…
There is a huge gap between talking about leadership in the abstract and putting the ideas into action. Leadership is a powerful idea – crucial to success, yet squishy. So how does a leader transform hope and new directions into tangible results?
David Gergen of Harvard describes comtemporary leadership this way: “Command and control leadership has given way to a new approach, [which is] often called the influence model. The essence of leading others is to develop empathy with them and to develop the social skills that will persuade them to work toward shared goals.”
Many authorities, like Gergen, focus heavily on leadership style. But perceptions of style are often superficial and short-lived: Continue reading…
