Читать книгу Shapers - Jonas Altman - Страница 20

Lifetime loyalty to a single company has gone the way of the dodo bird. And progressive companies that cater to the human impulse to be free are the ones that will prosper in the future. Taking their cue from the Hollywood model, the shapers in these organisations work seamlessly with a myriad of worker types. Like a movie production, their WD‐40 is flexibility.

They appreciate that to get the best out of people, they must let them design their own approach to work. It's not debatable, but a basic reality of human nature. Assuming there is the volition (desire to do good work), there must be the right conditions–fertile ground for folks to get on with making their best contribution.

When work seeps into the fabric of life, there is only so much, if anything at all, that humans will tolerate as ‘managed resources’. The benefit an individual brings is their individuality. As such, they should not be wriggled to fit into the firm but celebrated for their unique gifts and stretched so as to make their greatest contributions.

The story a company tells must remain consistent with the values of its employees. And if there is misalignment, then engagement and productivity will suffer. The most talented will jump ship. But when employees can rally around a shared vision, they become the lifeblood of the organisation. When they are ennobled by great teammates and bold leaders, they become more themselves. They become shapers–acting as active agents for the company instead of empty vessels.

A film production enables individuals to make their best contribution. It provides space for them to find meaning in what they do. If more of our workplaces were modelled like this, we would be shaping our human nature in the same spirit.

Nearly half of all US workers are now millennials and by 2025, that percentage will jump to 75%. In comparison, the prior generation represented just 16% of the workforce in their time. Not only do younger workers tend to be more optimistic, their worldview has been defined in the digital era. These bourgeoning shapers are set on creating a working life where they come alive. The big difference now is that they have the opportunity and drive to do so.