Written by Liselotte Lyngsø, Partner at Supertrends Institute
If you had the opportunity to work anywhere you’d like. Where would it be? Would you stay in bed, go to a café, pick a co-working space together with like-minded neighbors – stay in your regular office? What kind of atmosphere works best for YOU? Maybe its situation-based, maybe it’s a specific version – freedom is being able to design the optimal work-life for your needs. And according to Forbes, flexible working spaces will be the main competitive force for recruiting talents in the years to come.
People are different. Some require complete silence and square walls to get a job done. Some find, that their creative sense is reinforced when sitting in lively surroundings or when they listen to music.
Once upon a time, the office was at the heart of our work. When we went in, it was time for work. When we got out again, we were free. Today, our view of when, where and how we work is much different. From having everyone work in set places and hours, more and more people strive to design their work lives, to their needs. Because why not? Unfortunately, not everyone is able to do that. The hierarchy of the future will be the battle between time-owners and time-slaves. Who decides when and where to meet? You or your colleagues – or do you take turns?
Joes & Cos is a business that catches this trend by broadening the workspace options. Just like a fitness club, they provide free access to various work-place environments so that you can navigate amongst the many options that are popping up everywhere. That way you can combine your office with being a “work-life” tourist experimenting with new ways of working and meeting up with people at locations that are easy to access. One day your office can be by the waterfront. The next day, it can be in the very city center.
Together with Joes and Cos, Liselotte Lyngsø, Future Navigator talked about the future of work and how she gets her job done.
Keep your employers by setting them free!
Your first and most important board meeting should be with yourself. Are you happy? Are you giving yourself enough credit?
We will get older and older and we will work more. Therefore, it’s extremely important that we are happy with what we do and where and when we do it! In the future, we’ll go from everyone having to sit in an office all day to letting people tailor their own work life so that it fits their needs completely. This is why coworking spaces are booming right now all over the world! People have found out that they’re not forced to sit in their offices anymore. With digitalization and mobile technology, they can pretty much work from everywhere.
So, leaders of the future: take note! People won’t tolerate to have their workspace decided for them. In order to keep your employees happy, you will have to set them free. Let them be creative, where and how they want.
In the future more and more people have to design their own work life. That’s really scary, because you’re always double scared of what you’re going to lose, rather than what you’re going to gain. But don’t worry – try to enjoy the journey instead.
This blog post has been written by futurist Liselotte Lyngsø from Future Navigator.
Now we want to hear from you:
What is your take on time owner vs. time slave? And more importantly: HOW will you make sure that you, your team and organisation adapt and thrive within this work-time paradigm shift?