John C. Maxwell, leadership guru, once said, “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
In 2018, the US workforce will be met with new initiatives to keep economic growth alive and job growth steady. With positive statistics already starting to show, it seems that businesses are poised to do well in 2018. In order to keep these expectations alive, one must be sure to lead their business, company, group, or committee with the right skills to facilitate success.
So what does this mean for business leaders in 2018? Here are five boxes that must be checked for leaders to demonstrate their effectiveness.
Facilitate Group Interaction
IBM and other companies have instituted workplace policies intended to bring everyone to the table literally. Work-at-home positions have been eliminated. Leaders will harness the power of face-to-face conversations that can spark problem solving and innovative ideas. Wework and Google Cafe reflect environments for communal participation.
Encourage Lifelong Learning
The growing education markets have revolutionized the workplace. With diverse academic courses from LinkedIn, Udemy, Coursera, EdX, Alison, and more, leaders now accept nontraditional learning. This will encourage many to return back to the books to gain secondary degrees or even attend specialized classes to grow in their position. Highly trained workers tend to be more productive and more respectful of business objectives.
Rely on American Employees
This year has been an exciting time for the US workforce. Over 6 million jobs are typically not filled in the U.S. because of skills gaps. And with seemingly half of all tasks working towards being automated in the near future, even more jobs could be at risk. Visionary leaders will be looking to strategize within their organization to provide career opportunities, bringing more jobs to Americans and those who have trained for them competitively.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
In 2017, machine learning was a hot topic. However, AI will be debuting within most technology in the near future. Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Apple have invested in smarter products, specifically in chatbots. In 2018, chatbots, computer software programs capable of very basic conversation, could be a part of the workplace. Many more leaders will use chatbots as personal assistants and customer service representatives.
Advocate Financial and Mental Wellness
There are many Americans that still live from paycheck to paycheck. National student loan debt has also totaled into trillions of dollars. This has left many employees to become stressed in the workplace while dealing with the aftermath. Programs such as the ones employed by Fidelity Investments and Aetna are helping employees pay back loans. Look for more programs like this in 2018.
Also, mental health and substance abuse are acknowledged. Human resources representatives and Employee Assistance Programs are helping workers find treatment and transition back to work.
In 2018, leaders will need to be sensitive, proactive and knowledgable within every aspect of the competitive business climate. They will need to implement employee-centered programs to recruit and retain a talented, diverse team. With these skills on the horizon, you’ll be sure to see success in 2018.
