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Best TED Talks on How Companies Can Succeed in the Future of Work

We live in the Age of Disruption that touches upon all spheres of life. The corporate life is no exception. The proliferation of new technologies has resulted in a new economic order, called for innovations and reinventions of businesses, as well as taken and created thousands of jobs. In order not to operate from a position of survival, companies should build concrete strategies to future-proof themselves.

That’s why we’ve picked for you seven TED talks that will help you rethink the way your company is preparing for the future and give tips on what to focus on.

Jim Hemerling: 5 ways to lead in an era of constant change

The way we approach the Age of Disruption is wrong. Jim Hemerling believes that “the era of always-on transformation” can be not as exhausting as organizations think—if they change their approach, of course. In his TED talk, Hemerling points out common mistakes made by leaders that make adapting to changes even harder than it’s supposed to be and offers five strategic imperatives that boil down to putting people first.

Check out the video to know how to reshape your organization so that your business’s adaptation is invigorating, not exhausting.

Yves Morieux: As work gets more complex, 6 rules to simplify  

Why is productivity so disappointing? Why is there so little engagement at work? New age, same old problems. Yves Morieux singles out a common root cause for these issues—complicatedness and obsoleteness of the basic pillars of management. To be ready to face constant changes and get rid of complexity, organizations need to rethink their management hierarchy and stop adding new bones to the skeleton when encountering new difficulties. For this purpose, in his TED talk, Morieux offers the smart simplicity approach based on six simple rules.

If you want to win the real battle (which is against yourself), against bureaucracy, and irrelevant complicatedness, then this video will come in handy.

Regina Hartley: Why the best hire might not have a perfect resume  

Still struggling with recruiting a perfect match for your company that will stick around and succeed in the long run? Are you sure you’re looking in the right direction? In her TED talk, Regina Hartley shares her insights about hiring two distinct categories of candidates: “the silver spoons” and “the scrappers”. Excellent job experiences and a bright educational background versus a series of odd jobs and a committed struggle against obstacles: do you know which candidate matches your company and job position best?

If you face hard choices between hiring the former or the latter, Hartley’s advice will give you food for thought.

Simon Sinek: Why good leaders make you feel safe

Back in the old days when Homo sapiens only appeared, the system of survival was built on trust. The modern world is no different but the dangers have changed: ups and downs in the economy; the uncertainty of the stock market; a new technology that renders your business model obsolete overnight, and the like. Desperate times call for outstanding leaders. Simon Sinek talks about the importance for employees to feel safe in the workplace, feel like they belong, know they have a support.

If you want to improve the leadership development strategy in your company and think that the future success depends on teams led by outstanding leaders, then this TED Talk is just for you.

Tim Leberecht: 4 ways to build a human company in the age of machines

In the age of AI and machines, it’s crucial to maintain a human touch in the workplace. Tim Leberecht believes that we should promote a new aesthetic and sentimental education to not end up feeling like aliens in organizations and societies that are full of smart machines. For this purpose, he offers four off-the-wall principles built inherently on human characteristics that will create the organization of the future.

Do the unnecessary. Create intimacy. Be ugly. Remain incomplete. Curious what these principles are about? Then check out the video above.

Jason Fried: Why work doesn’t happen at work

Ask people where they go to get something done. Jason Fried says that typically, you can get three kinds of answers: one is kind of a place, another is a moving object, and a third is a time. The library, the coffee shop, the plane, in the mornings… But you almost never hear someone say “the office”. Fried indicates two huge issues that hinder the creation of high-productive environments in offices—the M&Ms (the managers and the meetings).

Want to find out what companies can do to make their office a better place for employees to get things done? Check out Fried’s three suggestions. This will be extremely useful for those who can’t provide flexible options to employees.

Rainer Strack: The Workforce crisis of 2030—and how to start solving it now

Talent shortage alert! Though there’s a lot of talk about machines taking over people’s jobs in the future, a fresh research by Rainer Strack shows that in 2030 there will be a big workforce crisis. Technology will create a lot of new jobs that demand new skills which will only worsen the overall skill mismatch. Talent will be a scarce resource. That’s why Strack talks about a necessity to create a new people strategy.

If you want to future-proof your company from an overall labor shortage, a huge skills mismatch, and a major cultural workplace challenge in 2030, then this video is definitely worth your attention.

Interested in future-proofing your organizations? Request a free demo and talk to our experts to see what benefits you can reap from a smart learning experience solution!