The changing nature of our teams -and our work

I love observing the way people interact. How relationships are built, who works well with whom and how they overcome difficulties and enjoy working together. In my work I train and coach people to work well together, wherever they are working; in different countries, in virtual teams or just down the road but with a team that may have connections to many different cultures and countries.  The workplace settings are constantly changing with varying demands.

One thing that is quickly becoming a truism is that the workplace expectations of yesterday and today will be very different from those of tomorrow.

We recognise the changing ethnic and cultural backgrounds of people in the workplace in Australia and the increased need to operate in cross-border teams, or to relocate for work to other divisions a continent or two away.  And many organisations prepare their people, supporting them as they develop the different skills needed to work successfully in these situations.

Recently I attended the AHRI (Australian Human Resources Institute) Diversity and Inclusion conference and heard how many organisations are working to create inclusive workplaces.  In a short period of time we’ve moved far beyond asking people to tolerate one another and instead are able to discuss recognising and celebrating the many facets of difference in the workplace. 

I had discussions with others about the risks of considering ‘cultural fit’ as a recruitment practice, about the challenges of calling out bias when we see it, the need to recognise systemic discrimination and the on-going issues discussed in my last blog of unconscious bias. 

Many speakers spoke about their organisation’s ‘journey’ in building an inclusive work culture and we celebrated great work being done in major organisations such as LendLease and by NFPs such as Career Trackers creating Indigenous internship programs.  These changes are encouraging and show how HR professionals are rising to harness the challenges and reap the benefits of diverse and inclusive workplaces.

But there are other changes approaching that will alter the nature of work itself and the way the organization operates. 

In August I will be attending and reporting on the AHRI (Australian Human Resources institute) National Convention.   The program this year refers to the impact of robotics, machine learning and artificial intelligence on work content and the impacts on the workforce and the organization.  This isn’t just in one presentation but in a number of keynotes and concurrent sessions.  

How can we as HR professionals prepare for these workplace realities?  Are we aware and thinking about the flow on effect onto workforce planning, talent management, organisational design and culture?  How will these changes impact engagement, inclusion, turnover or wellbeing?

I think about the competencies that will be needed in what one presentation has titled – the brave new world.  Agility of thinking, cultural intelligence, pivoting and resilience will become even more critical. 

But after Friday’s conference I am encouraged.  HR Professionals are exactly that; professionals who continue to learn, continue to ask both strategic and operational questions, to encourage each other and share the journeys so we can all continue to build organisations able to work well together in the future.

This blog first appeared on the AHRI National Convention Blog Trisha will be blogging for AHRI in the lead up to the Convention and will attend David Rock's workshop as a guest of AHRI.