8 steps you need to take to thrive in the Future of Work

A common misconception is that the future of work is something that's ahead of us. But that's not the case. The future of work is here and it's here to stay and watch everyone is talking about future proofing yourself.

No one talks what it actually means.

Does it mean that you have to look in one job or one position for the rest of your life?

Or does it mean that you create your own position so you never have to worry about losing your job to automation.

Neither of these are entirely true future proofing your career is simply taking the extra step to help you prepare for a changing workforce. One that is goint to rely heavily on an increased use of technology.

So rather than waiting for technology to replace you, you want to be proactive and put yourself in a position where you are irreplaceable and potential employers and clients can't afford not to work with you. 

So what are those eight steps that you need to take to help us drive in the future of work? 

Step number one is that you adapt and change. It's a change mindset, meaning that rather than being fearful about changes, it's about seeing it as an opportunity to consistently learn, improve and grow. 

Step number two is that you have to rethink learning and make it part of your routine. The World Economic Forum suggests that we need on average 101 days of additional learning, and yes, I'm not talking about hours here. I'm talking about days and we're all busy. It's about keeping up in this fast changing world and going back to university isn't always the answer. So we need to develop a new way of acquiring the skills needed for new jobs awaited allows us for continuous integrated and sustainable learning.

Don't worry, one of the next episodes will cover exactly how to learn for the future of work. So make sure you subscribe and don’t miss a beat.

Step number three is that you have to build a brand. It's not just what you do. It's about how you do it. And what's your point of difference? What makes you unique that no one else can compete with. Building your personal brand. And being able to market and sell your point of difference is becoming one of the key skills in the future of work, because we also see more of a gig economy happening, meaning it's not just you chasing work, but also work chasing you. 

So the question is, can you be found and this brings me also in step number four, you want to become tech savvy, and also build a digital profile. If you can't be found, you can't be considered.

And technology is a great way to get yourself out there. So you want to become fluent in technology. And this doesn't mean that you have to learn programming languages. It's about embracing technology as part of everyday life. 

Step number five is that you need to hone in on your strengths and skills that you are already good at.

What we see is the rise of the so called Super jobs, which means that jobs Today need an average to above average skill set. So you want to focus on what you're really good at to become better at it to eventually become the best rather than focus on your weaknesses become a little bit better because this is also not what you're going to enjoy and keep doing. 

Step number six is to grow and foster your network and I'm talking diverse network, you want to get to know people across different industries and professional. A lot of people make the mistakes that they only build a network within the current company or within the current industry. But if you want to progress in your career, it all comes down to building your diverse network. 

Step number seven, you need to become more curious. In fact, creativity is one of the key skills for the future of work. And the best way to get more creative is to become more curious, asking more questions, rather than just trying to always answer questions. It's about understanding and knowing trends, and also where they come from, what are the drivers behind the trends and learning how to read between the lines asking questions like How does it impact me, my profession, my company My role and what can I do today to prepare myself for tomorrow. 

Step number eight is that you want to build a portfolio career, which means that you have got multiple streams of income, it's a great way for you to add new skills and also get better in them build a diverse network, and of course, also gain more industry experience which is often relevant for the job that you actually want to do.

Thank you so much for listening, and I can't wait to be with you again on your next run in the gym or on your commute.

If you enjoyed the show, it would mean the world to me. If you could leave Meeting rating and review and share your book person who needs to hear this.

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