Preparing for future work

Arm yourself with specific knowledge, accountability and leverage

I have worked for the largest and smallest companies in the UK. My first job out of university was with ICI who employed 240k people and I now work for Vodafone with 95k employees. I also setup Incygames Ltd which has no employees with me as the sole Director. Hence, I have experienced the joys and challenges of both large and small organisations. I believe that in 20 years the average company size will be much smaller than today. Also, work patterns for knowledge workers will change significantly.

Shrinking company size

One key factor determining a organisations employee count is the relative cost and complexity of undertaking activities inside verses outside. The Industrial Revolution created a geographical clustering around resources, bringing hundreds of people together in factories. Labour and capital were the means of leverage and economies of scale. Now, the efficient size of companies is shrinking, driven by IT. It is far more cost effective to use Microsoft Office facilities than develop them internally. In the future, most companies will have startup mentalities, loosely connected and coupled to each other through APIs or similar. A lot of new jobs will be created in small companies which require people to be more dynamic and information savvy.

Non linear output

We like to view the world as linear. I’m going to put in 8 hours of work in and get 8 hours of output. However, what we do, who you do it with and how we do it are far more important than how hard we work. Outputs are non-linear based on the quality of the work we put in. Someone good with computers can produce 10x, 100x or more output relative to those working with their hands. Society does not know how to handle these different levels of productivity. It is not socially acceptable for organisations to reward people according to the value they bring. On taking over Twitter, Elon Musk reduced the workforce by c.80%; he was trying to keep those engineers delivering most value.

Worker needs

Increasingly, business activities that can be automated via IT, AI and robotics will be. This will leave plenty for the creative, tech savvy future worker to do. Such workers will seek:

• Engaging work which they are good at and helps others

• Sufficient control and autonomy

• Supportive and engaging cultures

• Adequate financial reward

Future scenario

Future knowledge workers may wake up to find messages on their mobile (or equivalent interface) with a few job offers to work on projects. A bit like an Uber driver, they can choose which project to engage with for the next few days. They work via a series of API like interfaces with the rest of the world. Once complete, they’ll get feedback, including a rating. Work will be in sprints, interspersed with break periods.

How do we prepare?

If you can't code, write books and blogs, record videos and podcasts. - Naval Ravikant

I think we can prepare ourselves for this new world by:

1. Embracing change and adopting a Growth Mindset. Work with Our Unfair Advantages.

2. Recognising that the Best Skill Stacker Wins. Diversify skills, including writing, AI and technology.

3. Get comfortable Branding Ourselves.

4. Take ownership and control of our future; Pick Ourselves.

Other resources

The Internet has Massively Broadened Career Possibilities talk by Naval Ravikant

What Jeff Bezos Taught Me post by Phil Martin

Life Games to Play, Win and Exit post by Phil Martin

With my laptop, mobile phone and a bit imagination, I’m looking forward to a new world of possibility.

Let’s meet for a cool drink by the pool.

Phil…

Preparing for Future Work