the future of work is human (and here’s why)

the future of work is human (and here’s why)

As AI continues to rapidly change the world, it’s clear that employers need to reimagine work and how it gets done. However, that transformation shouldn’t start with systems or processes, but rather with people, taking into account their motivations, values and sense of purpose. 

During a recent episode of the HR Leaders podcast, Sam Schlimper, Randstad Enterprise’s managing director of advisory, spoke with host Chris Rainey about the importance of understanding what truly motivates people beyond their technical skills to create a work environment that fosters joy and positive results. 

As Sam says on the podcast,

“Capacity for growth comes from innovation and invention and imagination. You have to allow people to have that in order for them to create growth.”

new ways to think about work

Throughout the podcast, Sam discusses some key strategies employers can adopt to embrace this new age of work and truly unlock the human potential of their people. One way is to focus on “work pixelation,” or breaking down tasks to determine what can be performed best by people or AI. 

Another is the concept of “gooing,” referring to how a caterpillar dissolves itself into goo before transforming into a butterfly. Similarly, employers must deconstruct and rebuild their approach to work design, unlearning and relearning things to think about work and people differently. 

As we rely on AI to handle more technical tasks, human skills like critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and problem-solving will become more crucial. And it’s important to recognize that AI can help amplify such skills, but can’t replace them. 

Overall, Sam shares valuable insights on how employers can shift from focusing not just on productivity, but the joy, curiosity and connection of their people in the age of AI.