5 Emerging Issues & Trends

This week, we're trying something new — exploring the news and zeitgeist with insights and finding the perfect speaker to match the problem. We'd love your feedback if you have a few seconds to spare.

🔗 Empower Collaboration Through Self-Advocacy

⮕ “Teams of self-advocates bring together the tenacity and drive to achieve powerful outcomes,” says Tanita Allen, author of We Exist. Encouraging self-advocacy in the workplace isn’t just about individual empowerment—it’s about transforming how we collaborate. 

When employees openly share their strengths and limitations, they build trust, promote transparency, and create a foundation for successful partnerships. This approach is especially vital for marginalised communities, helping to break down systemic barriers. By embracing self-advocacy, we pave the way for clear communication, stronger problem-solving, and lasting success.

🧠 PepTalk insight: Encouraging employees to develop transparency in the workplace will lead to long-term success. Dia Bondi offers workshops on ‘how to lead with your authentic voice’.

🔗 Engaging Gen Z in the Workplace: Tackling 'Resenteeism'

⮕ In 2022, business leaders worried about 'quiet quitting’, where employees silently disengage from work, often linked to remote working. In 2024, a new challenge emerged as Gen Z became more prominent in the workforce: 'Resenteeism,' a blend of 'resentment' and 'absenteeism.' According to CNBC, 47% of Gen Z employees admit to merely coasting at work, while only 40% feel they are thriving—an opposite trend compared to older generations. 

Managers must adapt to engage Gen Z. CNBC's study shows that 24% of Gen Z workers seek more autonomy, and 25% crave stronger connections with colleagues. This comes as no surprise after entering the workforce during a pandemic. The question is: Can their managers, accustomed to hybrid work, meet these demands and truly engage Gen Z?

🧠 PepTalk insight: Managers must provide greater autonomy and foster strong connections, addressing the rise of 'presenteeism' and aligning with Gen Z's unique needs for engagement and satisfaction. Chloe Combi has interviewed over 20,000 young people to help answer the question of how.

🔗 Incentivising Upskilling: How Can We Prepare Workforces for an AI-Driven Future?

⮕ With AI rapidly transforming industries, how can we ensure employees stay relevant and engaged? The World Economic Forum predicts that technology will radically reshape 1.1 billion jobs in the next decade. As 42% of companies plan to prioritise upskilling in AI and big data, the question arises: How do we incentivise our workforce to embrace these changes?

Our workforce must develop the ability to work alongside AI, combining human creativity and critical thinking with automated precision. By offering diverse learning opportunities and encouraging employees to adapt, businesses can foster a workforce that survives and thrives in an AI-driven world. This collaboration between humans and AI is crucial for long-term success and innovation.

🧠 PepTalk insight: Unlearning and challenging your assumptions is essential to growth. Read more about it in Terence Mauri's blog post: Why Great Leaders Unlearn. Likewise, Dr Stephanie Hare, speaker, author, and technology consultant, can help you navigate the evolving landscape of technology and an AI-driven workforce.

🔗 The 3 B’s of a Successful Workplace Strategy

⮕ Jonas Thelandersson, Senior Consultant at Veldhoen + Company, promotes a perfect balance between three crucial elements when it comes to creating a thriving workplace: Bricks, Bytes, and Behaviours.

1. Bricks: the physical space where work happens. It’s not just about having an office; it’s about designing a space that aligns with your team’s goals and promotes productivity.
2. Bytes are the digital infrastructure. This technology powers communication, collaboration, and efficiency, allowing teams to work seamlessly, no matter where they are.
3. Behaviours: The cultural and behavioural norms shaping how employees interact and engage with space and technology.

These three elements must work in harmony in today's evolving work environment. Leadership plays a significant role in modelling change, but without aligning the physical space and technology with the proper cultural support, even the best strategies can falter.

🧠 PepTalk insight: Finding harmony in an evolving environment involves focusing on three crucial elements: Bricks, Bytes, and Behaviours. Nic Smith will highlight the well-being areas your organisation needs, coaching leaders to thrive and grow in this ever-evolving environment.

🔗 Boosting Accountability and Productivity in Remote Work

⮕ Did you know that Microsoft 's "follow-the-sun" model has led to a 20% decrease in turnover rates? This innovative approach, where teams hand off projects across different time zones, not only enhances productivity but also improves employee satisfaction by fostering a better work-life balance.

As remote work becomes more prevalent, companies are rethinking how to measure productivity and accountability. Traditional metrics, often based on visible in-person interactions, are proving inadequate in this new landscape. The disparity between how employees and leaders view productivity adds another layer of complexity. Organisations are exploring new ways to define and track performance to stay ahead. Embracing flexible strategies like those pioneered by Microsoft can help bridge the gap, ensuring that remote work is both practical and rewarding.

🧠 PepTalk insight: Organisations must embrace dynamic strategies and modern communication methods to bridge the gap between employer and employee. Expert speakers, like Ellen C. Scott, will share their knowledge and expertise to help workforces transition into the modern way of working.

💡 Would you like to explore any of these topics with an expert speaker? Let us know, and we’ll find the perfect PepTalk expert for your organisation. Email hello@getapeptalk.com. You can also call us on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US). Remember, it’s always a good time to get a PepTalk!