The Future of Learning and Work

What will the workforce look like in 2020? Will communication between staff and supervisors be conducted entirely online? Will trainers exist at all? Who will be managing the office?

Several prominent thinkersNoel Tichy, Howard Gardner, Tom Rath, Malcolm Gladwell, Mark Penn, and Tim Ferrissgave their insights on the makeup of the future workforce, the importance of learning in hiring and retention, and the importance of coaching in future workplaces.

Learning will be an absolutely critical element of organizations ability to attract and retain top talent in two ways, says Tamara J. Erickson, president of the Concours Institute. The opportunity to learn is the number 1 factor todays younger workers are using to select a company.

Companies that can offer a broad-based learning program have a serious recruiting edge over firms with less robust learning programs. Offering challenging assignments is a critical element of retention. A rich learning environment will be important, not only to young workers, but also to older workers seeking opportunities to refocus their careers in new directions.