What future leadership looks like?

Throughout history, working life has always gone through periods of change that have altered the nature and structure of work. The Industrial Revolution saw the replacement of manual occupations by factory jobs, and the emergence of new job roles and organisational models that continue to evolve with technology. The globalisation of the late 20th century and the information technology revolution were also key turning points that influenced changes in jobs and occupations. According to Vuorenmaa, the current transformation of working life is a period in history where the success of organisations depends on their ability to lead a culture where it is possible to learn-from and learn-to-learn, innovating by using technologies to build new ways of doing things.

"At the heart of work-life change is the demand to learn away and the opportunity to learn new. A key element here is psychological safety, as learning requires a safe environment where people can ask questions and put forward ideas without fear of ridicule. It cannot be left to individuals to learn new things, but to remain competitive, organisations must integrate learning into their everyday work and actively support employees in this development," says Vuorenmaa.

The technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution offer the opportunity to create a sustainable working life globally, but nothing happens by itself, it all depends on us.

The working life of the future is as good as we want it to be

The introduction of technology does not automatically bring positive changes, but requires a systemic approach that takes into account people's emotions and their reactions to change.

"Emotion management is about how organisations can understand and manage the emotions of their employees as part of change. Enthusiastic employees can be drivers of change, while those experiencing shame are important to identify and address with appropriate support. Successful change requires a holistic understanding of emotions and conscious management of emotions," says Vuorenmaa.

Critical, people-centred and personal

Leadership in the new era requires leaders to be proactive, empathetic and constantly learning. Vuorenmaa lists concrete tips to help everyone develop as a leader and help their organisation succeed in the midst of change.

1) Be open to change

Try to identify your own established ideas about work and challenge their persistence. Lead by example by being open to new ideas and change. Embracing change requires flexibility and adaptability.

2) Listen to your employees and manage their feelings

Ask and listen to the views and feelings of your employees to understand their needs and concerns. Managing emotions is as important as managing practice. Create an atmosphere where employees feel safe and valued.

3) Learning in and out

Encourage continuous learning and unlearning to enable the organisation to adapt to a constantly changing environment. Create space for learning and build a culture that enables psychologically safe growth.

4) Use technology appropriately

Technology offers huge opportunities. Use the latest technology to increase efficiency and sustainability.