Jobs for life are unlikely for aspirational professionals in today’s workforce.
Traditional employment paradigms are slowly disappearing from workplaces. Concepts such as the agile work environment, activity based workplaces and a contingent workforce, might better describe the current landscape. What’s causing this shift? Retaining an employee in a permanent full-time role is no longer imperative to protect the growth of your organization.
There are many reasons why workforce flexibility is attractive in todays market. Engaging contractors provides many benefits:
1.) The ability to ‘right size’ your team and engage technical experts for specific projects. The opportunity for learning transfer can occur, and stay with your permanent employees long after the contractor fulfills their obligation.
2.) Inject fresh ideas and energy from people with broader industry experience. Less can also bring more: Short-term specialist staff can help to refine best practice methodology in your company.
3.) Many professionals with a wealth of knowledge would much prefer contributing on a contractual basis, than in a long-term role. They enjoy the variance of work and having a positive impact on many organizations versus one.
4.) In a global organization, local head offices may engage additional staff during time sensitive projects when the resources are stretched thin internally, without the need for long-term investment.
We are seeing various trends across sectors, in general I am seeing more organizations willing to consider a contractor as a valid alternative to the traditional permanent employee.
► What workforce trends have you observed in your industry?
► How have contractors positively contributed to your organization?
Developing your own skills, becoming a member of your industries professional organizations and being open to change are critical to your success. Adapting to this new trend will be difficult for some of the individuals in your organization and you may need to engage a change management practitioner to support your efforts to become a more agile workplace.
To go along with this new way of doing business in an agile workforce, there will be more emphasis on adopting a coach approach to performance management. Leaders and members of your team will need to flex in order to adapt to an ever-changing team who will increasingly be based remotely and not be accessible within traditional office hours or a corporate environment. With improved technological advances and flexible working practices, I believe that traditional ‘line of sight’ management is becoming a thing of the past.
► How has your thinking adjusted to accommodate this trend?
The Coaching Clinic will help you and your organization prepare for this continued trend – The workshop provides you with cutting-edge techniques and competencies to maximize the performance of your organization while adopting a coach approach.
Contractors can help you adopt a more agile environment and this means better options for your organization. Think about the possibilities when you are recruiting and remove the limitation on the talent available to you.
Here’s to partnering in possibility. Call me (416) 939-8645 to move forward now.
Maintain momentum and make it a great day!
Image credit and artist: LA artist and old friend Jennifer Verge
Inspired by: My email sign off:)
