Employee Expectations Are Changing. Employers Need to Pay Attention.
The answer to better office culture isn’t technology—it’s leadership training
Most workers hold jobs that are complex, interconnected, and knowledge-based. Peter Drucker predicted this rise of work accomplished with minds rather than muscle in the 1950s, and that’s now changed to an emphasis on jobs that require not just knowledge but also adaptability. This workplace transition has deeply affected the expectations of employees, as jobs now require greater psychological resources and soft skills in every role, from software developer to CTO, from customer support associate to sales manager.
Most colleges don’t explicitly teach students emotional or social intelligence skills until postgraduate programs in business leadership, so employees must look to the only other place these skills can be acquired: on the job. Unsurprisingly, when they don’t find skills trainings there, employees look for a role elsewhere that will give them what they need to remain competitive and fulfilled.
Skills development solves the problem of doing a job well, but that issue is by no means the only problem the modern workforce faces. Employees are expected to answer emails after hours and on weekends and to be available for early or late calls…
