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The Future of Work: Navigating the Pivot with Heather McGowan

The times of relying on outdated methods of working your way up the corporate ladder are ending, ushering in a new era of work that requires leaders to prepare their people and organizations for unprecedented changes. The gig economy is rising, with independent contractors filling labor shortages and creating opportunities for more flexible working arrangements. Automation and artificial intelligence are transforming the way we work, shifting the balance of power between employers and employees. To stay competitive in this changing landscape, leaders must develop strategies to attract and retain talent while also leveraging technology to drive innovation. 

In this episode with Heather McGowan, we talk about everything you need to know about the future of work and how you can be better prepared for the pivot. McGowan is an author, advisor, and keynote speaker. She speaks at more than 75 events per year to companies from finance to consumer products to education to government agencies to media organizations—virtually every industry sector that engages humans. McGowan holds an undergraduate degree in industrial design from Rhode Island School of Design, an MBA from Babson College, and an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

Listen in to learn why McGowan believes that in the Third Industrial Revolution, we learned (once) in order to work, and now, in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, we will work in order to learn (continuously).

Tune in

• [00:01] Quick bio of today’s guest; Heather McGowan
• [00:56] How our default factory settings of work have changed
• [01:43] How people have reacted to taking the leap of changing their life
• [03:01] How companies have pivoted to this shift
• [04:30] What leaders need to do about their independent workers in their workforce
• [05:31] Causes of the massive shortage in the labor force
• [07:43] How leaders are reluctant to adapt to changes in the labor market
• [10:38] Creating a work environment that Gen Z wants to work
• [12:16] Data on the prevalence of diversity and the gig economy
• [14:15] The framework of leadership around mindset
• [17:15] The “we culture.”
• [19:04] What is job scouting, and how it affects your purpose in a career
• [21:43] The human behavior that needs to change in leadership
• [22:47] Quiet quitting
• [24:34] What Heather has witnessed as a common issue among people in the post-pandemic era
• [25:30] Episode wrap-up and calls to action

•  “It takes about sixty days for a habit to form.”- Heather [00:57]
• “Anything that has changed is a result of someone taking a risk.”- Host [07:23]
• “Companies should only be formed around solving a specific need.’-Heather [10:40]
• “In a skills-based economy, the human potential is the king!” - Host [23:31]
• “Quiet quitting in the labor market is when somebody decides that they are no longer going to focus on a job, but their family and mental health.”-Heather [23:40]

1. The Man Who Broke Capitalism: How Jack Welch Gutted the Heartland and Crushed the Soul of Corporate America―and How to Undo His Legacy by David Gelles: https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Broke-Capitalism-America_and/dp/198217644X

1. Heather’s Book: The Adaptation Advantage: Let Go, Learn Fast, and Thrive in the Future of Work: https://www.amazon.com/Adaptation-Advantage-Learn-Thrive-Future/dp/1119653096

Heather McGowan

Website: https://heathermcgowan.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermcgowan/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/heathermcgowan