Abrupt Future. The Future of Work Happened Faster Than we Thought.

On Product Management in HR & Employee Experience, a conversation with Jonathon Hensley, CEO of Emerge Interactive What is alignment and why it is so important Why many digital initiatives fail How to define an effective product strategy that bridges the execution gap Managing executive stakeholders and expectations Aligning outcomes and constrained resources Links Jonathon LinkedIn's page Emerge Interactive.

A conversation with Matthew Kopko,  Vice President of Public policy at DailyPay What is On-Demand Pay ? What problems is it solving? Will that  make the bi-weekly payroll cycle a relic of the past? What is the impact of on-demand pay for workers? For employers? Any other stakeholders? Did the pandemic changed attitude toward pay or payroll? What have you seen evolving differently in the last 2 years? What do you see as the future of payroll practices or technology? Matthew Kopko: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattkopko/  DailyPay: https://www.dailypay.com/

A conversation with Roland Deiser, Executive Chairman at Center for the Future of Organization, Drucker School of Management (https://futureorg.org/) what is an ecosystem the impact of ecosystems on organisations the challenges of ecosystems; leadership, agility, talent and operating systems Industry dynamics Technology and ecosytems

Stephen de Groot is President & Co-Founder of Brivia and a leadership expert.  The Great Resignation -  challenges and opportunities The biggest killers of morale and the burnout epidemics Getting better at tackling change  Advice for people who start a leadership role and for remote leadership Brivia consulting: https://briviaconsulting.com/ Stephen de Groot https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-de-groot-b3577852/

In April 2020, I started this podcast to think through the different workforce, HR and organisational impacts of the global shift to remote work.   The idea of remote working wasn’t new to me, but this was different though—a new global experiment. Now everyone was working remotely, regardless of role or work preference, and that brings a lot of questions, especially if we are to have more of these alternative work arrangements in the future. I decided to have conversations with a variety of experts—HR, management consultants, academics, leaders, CEOs, start-up founders, remote work experts and an ex-military. Of all these conversations, a few key points stand out. This episode is a summary. Read the article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-things-i-learned-future-work-happened-faster-than-benoit/. 

Dustin W. Seale is a partner in Heidrick & Struggles’ London office and managing partner of Heidrick Consulting in Europe. He focuses on CEO and board advisory, specifically on improving leadership and talent, and transforming organizations through culture https://www.heidrick.com/en/people/s/dustin_seale Topic covered:  4 different scenarios for what post-COVID work would look like What leaders need to do differently - and what  the C-suite needs to do differently Why leadership impact on sustainability and inclusion is not inspiring  Advice for organisations navigating the change to hybrid work 

A conversation with Priya Radia, D&I Management Consultant at Included How was Included created? What is “Inclusion 3.0” Do we still need to convince leaders that inclusion and diversity are worth achieving, or are we past the “business case for D&I”? How do clients start to improve the diversity of the workforce and the inclusiveness of their culture. Are there specific levers, “low-hanging fruits” that leaders can look for? How do you measure the diversity and inclusiveness of the workforce? Is D&I changing with the rise of remote and hybrid work? If yes, how? How do you see D&I practices evolving? https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyaradia/ https://www.included.com/

In this episode, Benoit Hardy-Vallee talks with Emma Leonis, Executive Director of HR Transformation at LACE Partners. She leads LACE’s thought leadership into the future of HR service delivery and operating models, with recent reports including ‘The Future of HR Shared Services: Becoming People Experience and Solutions Experts’ and ‘HR on the Offensive’. Topics:  The evolution of HR shared service centers - new roles, new skills HRBP vs Shared Services How to transform Shared Services Onboarding as a use case of coordinating all stakeholders around employee experience Links:  LACE partners site Emma on LinkedIn The report: The Future of HR Shared Services: Becoming People Experience and Solutions Experts

In this episode, Benoit Hardy-Vallee talks to Liz Kislik. She is a management consultant, executive coach, author, and an expert in leadership, management, culture and so much more. Approaching conflict meaningfully and dealing with conflict avoidance. The dynamic of conflict and conflict resolution in a remote environment. Advice on returning to the office. Compassion and surveillance. “The fact that a team has no public disagreement does not mean that they are in good shape and happy and everything is perfect. It’s much more likely to mean that good ideas are being withheld and that there is some discomfort ranging from anxiety to full-on resentment present in the team that’s not being expressed as the leader.” - Liz Kislik

***We are very proud to announce that Abrupt Future was ranked no. 9 on that list of "Top Workforce Management Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021" by Feedspot*** In this episode, Benoit Hardy-Vallee talks with Nalin Rajaure, Director at OrgVantage. What is an HR operating model The evolution of HR operating models and  org design How enterprise should rethink their structure when they digitize their business model.  The Zero-based approach to operating model Agility in designing models The impact of remote/hybrid work on operating models How to help employees adapt to the ways of working

***We are very proud to announce that Abrupt Future was ranked no. 9 on that list of "Top Workforce Management Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021" by Feedspot*** In this episode, Benoit Hardy-Vallee talks to Iwo Szapar – Remote work Advocate and CEO at Remote-how. Topics covered - The story of Remote-How - How  Remote-How helped its client during the pandemic - What Iwo learned by surveying Remote Managers - What is a "head of remote" and why companies need it - What is the "next new normal"

In this episode, Benoit Hardy-Vallee talks to Ira S Wolfe - President at Poised for the Future Company, Founder of Success Performance Solutions, and a popular presenter at SHRM and business conferences. He has authored 6 books, including the latest “Recruiting in the age of googlisation.” - see https://www.irawolfe.com/recruiting-googlization/ AQ Webinar: https://irawolfe.webinarninja.com/live-webinars/741915/register Recruiting in the Age of Googlization Book: https://www.successperformancesolutions.com/recruiting-googlization-book-sales-page/ Recruitment Marketing webinar: https://irawolfe.webinarninja.com/automated-webinars/15646/register Googlization Nation: https://googlizationnation.com

The kind of task or activities that tend to be automated Where should leaders start  "Authenticious" Automation How people react to automation How  to handle concerns about automation How automation technology will evolve · Richard Schnitzel: Website LMH9RO4Ee4r7kiuzy0QD

On military leadership, resilience and thinking, an interview with Richard Lawrence, 04/12,2021 While serving in the military, Richard was posted in Northern Island, Iran, and Afghanistan. Post leaving the Army, he sought ways to bring his experience and knowledge to the business. He married his military experience and business knowledge into one and launched CounterStrike. The company is responsible for handling all aspects of corporate problem-solving, planning, and resilience training. what  business can learn from the military the biggest misconception about the military how can military techniques help improve resilience How to apply Wargaming in the workplace What leaders can do to help their staff be more resilient Resources Mentioned: https://www.counterstrikeuk.com/  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Awakening-Warrior-Richard-Charles-Lawrence/dp/1984179527/

James Kelley is the CEO & Co-Founder of qChange, a real-time end-to-end Leader Experience Solution that prompts, measures, grows, and predicts leader success in Microsoft Teams. In August 2020, the first product - Leader Experience (LX) was launched in Microsoft Teams. LX is a low-touch high-impact solution that improves leadership development with real-time prompts, measurement, feedback, and growth. qChange partners with employee experience, coaching, and assessment organizations that have relationships with large global organizations. Topics Covered: What was the driver behind launching qChange? James discusses the power of creating an engaging meeting culture by asking the right questions. Are you having a one-way conversation or  a two-way dialogue? James points out how psychological factors are affecting an organization’s growth? What is a top-down approach in a meeting? Do we spend a lot of time in the same agenda-based meetings? Is it an absolute necessity to attend  meetings? Are the employees adding value in  discussions, asking questions or bringing some impact to the table? James discusses how qChange is aimed to help leaders show up better in meetings? How to drive more inclusions in meetings?

Jordan Boesch is the CEO and Founder of 7shifts, a labor-management platform used by about 16,000 restaurants across North America. 7shifts allows restaurants to control labor, manage staff, manage compliance issues, and keep staff engagement high by providing a mobile app to the employees. Starting out as a side hustle, eventually, 7shifts made enough money for Jordan to quit his software engineering career and focus on changing the restaurant industry! Topics Covered: ● How did Jordan come to start 7shifts? ● What is the experience for the managers and employees? ● How does 7shifts changing the employee experience? ● What does the future look like for restaurant workers and those outside the food industry? ● Jordan discusses employees’ desire to learn and advance their skills. ● What else would Jordan like to change in the restaurant industry and how does technology impact that? ● Jordan discusses the opportunities in front of 7shifts.

Mark A. Herschberg is the author of The Career Toolkit, Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You. From tracking criminals and terrorists on the dark web to creating marketplaces and new authentication systems, Mark has spent his career launching and developing new ventures at startups and Fortune 500s and in academia. He helped to start the Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program, dubbed MIT’s “career success accelerator,” where he teaches annually. At MIT, he received a B.S. in physics, a B.S. in electrical engineering & computer science, and a M.Eng. in electrical engineering & computer science, focusing on cryptography. At Harvard Business School, Mark helped create a platform used to teach finance at prominent business schools. He also works with many non-profits, including Techie Youth and Plant A Million Corals. He was one of the top-ranked ballroom dancers in the country and now lives in New York City, where he is known for his social gatherings, including his annual Halloween party, as well as his diverse cufflink collection. Leadership, networking, negotiation, teamwork, effective communication–all skills we’re told are essential for success, but skills rarely ever taught. Mark and Benoit discuss how these Topics convered:  what is missing from secondary education Why we all need a career plan What  "learning beyond your role" means How being an interviewer helps become a better interviewee Influential vs. positional leadership Mental models  How should people build their network How systems are designed to incentivize unethical behavior Link: https://www.thecareertoolkitbook.com/ 

A conversation with Jeff Wald, Founder of Work Market (now an ADP company). Jeff has founded several other technology companies including Spinback (eventually sold to Salesforce). He is an active angel investor and startup advisor, as well as serving on numerous public and private Boards of Directors. Jeff is the author of  The End of Jobs: The Rise of On-Demand Workers and Agile Corporations. Lessons from past industrial revolutions The real size and impact of the on-demand labor market transformation Robotics and Automation The challenges of upskilling  The $10M  "Future of Work Prize"

A conversation with Graham Thornton, CEO of Change State and Podcast host at the Changing State of Talent Acquisition.  The evolution of Talent Acquisition - where were we 10 years ago? What was it like to apply for a job, what kind of technology were TA leaders using? How do employers today stand out to attract top talent? The importance of marketing and relationship management in TA Common mistakes that organizations make in trying to evolve their TA process? Candidate nurturing and the future of TA technology

A conversation with 2  of the authors of a new research report on how labour market could evolve by 2030. Context and drivers behind the “Ahead by a Decade” research (https://brookfieldinstitute.ca/ahead-by-a-century-employment-in-2030/) Occupations that are forecast to change Which skills are  foundational for the workforce of the future 

In May, the Urban Analytics institute released a research report on “Telework during COVID-19 lockdown in Canada” that analyzes the prevalence of work from home (telework) and its impact on transportation and real estate in urban context The magnitude of telework during COVID-19 lockdown Why was telework not more common beforehand, even if technology made it possible Impact on traffic, traffic congestion, housing affordability and commercial real estate

A conversation with  Shonna Waters, VP Behavioral Science, Professor, Author, Certified Leadership Coach at BetterUp.  · How BetterUp uses behavioral science to help employees and organizations to grow · Why resilience is increasingly important for organizations  · How to build resilient organizations and resilient leaders · How coaching improves resilience and other benefits of coaching · The future of leadership development Resources for thriving in unprecedented times

 A conversation with Imran Mouna, Co-founder of InStage, a company who develop VR software to rapidly improve soft skills.  · Background on launching InStage · How to you use VR in learning · The benefits for VR learning · When is VR most effective for learners vs. when it is not  · The impact of the COVID19 crisis on VR · What inStage is working on  · The future of VR  Episodes Notes:  https://www.abruptfuture.com/post/on-vr-learning-and-soft-skills-a-conversation-with-imran-mouna-s01e11 Links https://www.instage.io/  https://www.linkedin.com/company/instagevr/  https://www.instagram.com/instagevr/ https://twitter.com/instagevr https://www.linkedin.com/in/imran-mouna 

A conversation with Maaz Rana, co-founder & COO, and Maurice Forbes, HR Solutions Consultant, at Knockri (https://www.knockri.com/) Knockri is an AI skills-based assessment tool, that helps reduce unconscious bias and shortlists the best fit job candidates to interview, during the early screening process of hiring How AI systems can figure who should be short-listed, and how it increases diversity The story of Knockri  What should organizations do to really reduce discrimination and racism Racism, the Canadian way The forgotten story of Africville

A conversation with Dave Cook – PhD Researcher, Anthropology, UCL (University College London). What are “digital nomads” and what Dave learned about them in his 7-year research on remote work and digital nomads The typical path, entry point or background in this way of living and working  The use of "disciplining practices to manage work/leisure boundaries”- digital mediated time management, self-regulation, skills maintenance, image management and personal branding. Key trends that will shape the future of how we work   More information at https://www.eworklife.co.uk/  Academic Profiles https://theconversation.com/profiles/dave-cook-507256  https://www.ucl.ac.uk/anthropology/people/research-students/david-cook Project Website  http://thenomadproject.org/ Original research: interim 4 years findings  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40558-020-00172-4  Five workplace trends will shape life after lockdown   https://theconversation.com/five-workplace-trends-will-shape-life-after-lockdown-138077 Specific article on digital nomads  https://theconversation.com/digital-nomads-what-its-really-like-to-work-while-travelling-the-world-99345 Articles issuing guidance on working from home for those new to it.   https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2020/mar/freedom-trap-how-manage-remote-working  https://www.myscience.org/news/wire/the_freedom_trap_how_to_survive_remote_working-2020-UCL Some non-English/International syndications  https://theconversation.com/la-covid-19-force-le-teletravail-une-etude-leve-le-voile-sur-ses-risques-caches-134176  https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/commentary-remote-working-promised-freedom-but-seems-to-be-12585756  https://theconversation.com/nomadas-digitales-el-reto-de-trabajar-mientras-se-viaja-por-el-mundo-100777  https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/318832

A conversation with Dr. Benjamin Granger, Sr. Principal | XM Catalyst XM Institute at SAP Qualtrics.  Definition and clarifications on Employee Experience (EX) and Experience Management (XM) How can HR leaders embrace XM in HR  and avoid the “ad-hoc employee surveying or disjointed EX efforts” What is instrumental to manage the Working-From-Home Employee Experience How to adjust your EX program in times of crisis How employee expectations will change post-COVID How can organizations prepare for these changes The future of EX and XM programs Qualtrics XM institute: https://www.qualtrics.com/xm-institute/ Ben's publications: https://www.qualtrics.com/blog/author/benjaming/ XM Professionals Network (XMPN) Online Forum https://www.qualtrics.com/community/categories/XMPN  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-granger-7147991b/

A conversation with Amir Salihefendić, Founder and CEO of Doist.  (https://doist.com) The backstory – how Amir came with Doist, what the experience is like for the user How to balance synchronous and asynchronous communication Upside and downside of async Suggestions on adopting async for an organization that is not used to it Creating a culture and a sense of community in a remote workplace Remote Work Guides: https://doist.com/blog/remote-work-guides/  

A conversation Mariano Suarez-Battan, CEO or MURAL.  The nature of imagination work The story and use of MURAL Remote vs in-person imagination work Best practices for online creative work and collaboration Online imagination work and asynchronous communication The new normal and the future of imagination work

A conversation with Laurel Farrer CEO of Distribute Consulting, Founder of the Remote Work Association and a Writer for Forbes magazine and other business publications The economic impact of virtual jobs and how can it benefits cities, communities and economies The benefits of remote work for organizations Guidelines to establishing a virtual operational model How telework can improve diversity The impact of remote work on mental health, and the safeguards that organizations can put in place Closing the cultural gap between on-site and off-site workers https://www.distributeconsulting.com https://www.laurelfarrer.com/ https://www.remoteworkassociation.com/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurelfarrer/#7f470aa3517a https://twitter.com/laurel_farrer https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurel-farrer/

A conversation with Hailley Griffis, Head of Public Relations at Buffer, a fully distributed organization of 85 people living and working in 15 countries around the world, as well as co-host of the MakeWorkWork podcast. For the last few years, Buffer publishes a State of Remote Work Research report (https://lp.buffer.com/state-of-remote-work-2020). In this episode we explore the key insights and their meaning for the future of work. Topics discussed: Background on the research project and Buffer's own commitment to being fully remote What respondents think about remote work The main benefits and the top challenges of remote work Why some people don’t recommend remote work  Recommendations for communicating asynchronously How to make collaboration and communication flow better

With Pr. Dr. Andreas Eckhardt, Professor of Human Resource Management at the German Graduate School of Management and Law (GGS), an expert in Digital Transformation in HR Management and on the Adoption, Diffusion, and Use Of Information Systems.  Organizations that succeed in establishing remote working practices The challenges faced by remote workers Collaboration accross locations, time zones, and schedules  Establishing virtual trust Why the social ties among virtual co-workers are stronger   Professional personas when working from home. 

How the rapid, forced virtualization of work is received by the different generations at work Generations and the use of technology at work The leadership behaviours that are needed to effectively lead a virtual team The virtual team’s challenges that can impact engagement and how to overcome them What “followers” should do to better support and enable their leaders What HR can do to help leaders and business units

A conversation with Laura Hambley from Work EvOHlution. Topics covered: What “distributed work” is The biggest myths about distributed work Personality and distributed work Self-management in work from home What should managers be doing to better manage their teams