Surfing the waves of work in Paris

Navigating the First Day of VivaTech Paris: Unveiling the New Paradigm in People Management at the CHR Summit

After an exciting first day at VivaTech Paris, the remarkable annual technology conference and trade show in the heart of Paris, I’m here to share my thoughts on the CHR (Chief Human Resources) Summit. It was a pleasure to attend this event and have the opportunity to discuss the topic at hand.

The dynamics surrounding work and its impact on our lives have captured my attention for quite some time now. Perhaps it’s because, as an entrepreneur, I strive every day to create a positive environment for my team, or maybe it’s because I firmly believe that people are the true driving force behind any successful business. As both a practitioner and someone who enjoys studying and exploring this theme, many of the discussions during the event deeply resonated with me.

During the panel on Meaningful work, Celica Thellier d’Auzers shared her research, highlighting four different waves that reflect how people have approached work over the years. The first wave focused on security, followed by a wave centered around happiness (think ping pong and pizza days), and then a wave emphasizing the search for purpose. However, according to Celica, over the past year, we have witnessed a shift toward people seeking excellent working conditions. It’s important to note that, unlike the previous waves, this aspect is highly subjective, varying across individuals, timeframes, and contexts.

So, what does this mean? The study of working conditions and the broader concept of work quality has been ongoing for quite some time. While it may seem intuitive to associate work quality with satisfaction, the truth is that this topic is complex and subjective. What constitutes good work varies depending on the individual, occupation, industry, and location. It’s not the jobs themselves that are evaluated, but rather each person’s unique experience, expectations, community standards, and the experiences of their peers. Consequently, even within the same industry, occupation, and location, differences in attributes and perceptions of quality can arise.

Although not a new concept, it appears that personal experience and individual meaning in the context of work have now become the most valuable aspects of one’s professional life. As Kerstin Rothermel, CPO/VP of People at Bolt, aptly pointed out during the same panel, “It’s not just a matter of purpose, it’s about meaning.” But what exactly does meaningful work entail? That’s the magical part — it’s not a one-size-fits-all concept that companies can simply outline in a plan for roles and wages, a trendy workspace, clear priorities, and autonomy, or an inspiring purpose statement. It’s individual-centric, not organization-centric. It’s a complex, holistic, and subjective notion.

Meaningful work can encompass various elements, such as fair wages, remote or in-person work arrangements, comprehensive health insurance, or exciting challenges. It varies from person to person and even throughout different stages of our lives. That being said, it’s crucial for companies to understand that it’s not about trying to please everyone. While personalization in employee experience is important, as Carl Hoffmann from CleverConnect highlighted during the panel “Winning the war for Digital Talents,” organizations also need to have clarity in defining the work experience they promote and ensuring it aligns with the desired quality of work.

This perspective places individuals at the center, emphasizing the creation of meaning and their overall experience with work. When management is approached from an experiential standpoint, people collaborate towards common goals, make things happen, and have the opportunity to be their best selves every day. Kerstin Rothermel brought up an excellent point to conclude our conversation — it’s not just an HR matter. It represents a paradigm shift in people management. The employee experience unfolds in the day-to-day routine. While HR can provide the systems, methods, and tools, it’s ultimately the leaders and managers who have the power to drive and shape this experience, leveraging data to enhance working conditions. This resonates deeply with what Bud stands for and how we are assisting leaders and organizations.

So, if you want to ride this wave, make sure to understand what meaningful work means for your team every single day. Be attuned to where your people need support the most and take action to assist them. And if you’re one of the fortunate leaders utilizing Bud, just take a glance at our weekly check-ins, and we can help you make a real difference ;)