The Next Chapter: Future of Work

Happy Book Lovers Day! If you’re a fellow bibliophile, you’ll also enjoy celebrating with people around the world through a shared love of books. It’s fascinating to think about how much technology has advanced the way we access information - there was once a time when physical books were the ultimate technology! 

When Dale Carnegie published ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ in 1936, this was certainly true. To this day, it’s still one of the most successful business books of all time with more than 30 million copies and a best seller 85 years later. 

So, how has it managed to stay relevant so many years later? My take is its emphasis on humanity and people. As I’ve progressed throughout my career, a quote that’s stuck with me since my first time reading this many years ago is:

"Success in dealing with people depends on a sympathetic grasp of the other person’s viewpoint." 

Fast forward to 2021 and this sentiment still rings true, particularly when it comes to the future of work and approach to people operations. The workforce has changed dramatically, and although the pandemic has expedited the urgency for updated HR practices, one thing has always been true: companies that consistently listen to the needs and wants of their people have happier, healthier and more productive workforces. 

When this doesn’t happen, we experience a surplus of resignations. It was only four months ago that four million people in the U.S. quit their jobs as part of ‘The Great Resignation.’ Work has changed and so have the expectations of employees. However, people operations doesn’t have to be painful, and with the right guardrails and a strong people-first philosophy, employees can truly understand their value, both in and out of the workplace. 

As a dedicated people operations leader, I’m delighted that my first book, People Operations, written in conjunction with Jay Fulcher and Kevin Marasco, is available to buy on Book Lovers Day to guide companies through this important transition. We’ve created a book that companies can rely on, complete with actionable insights on the technology needed to keep people connected, engaged and productive. After all, your people are, and always will be, your company’s greatest assets. 

On National Book Lover’s Day, I encourage everyone to join us on this important journey as we work together as people leaders to empower workforces. The future of work is here and it’s an important chapter to get right.

#BookLoversDay #FutureOfWork #PeopleOperations