The office of the future is not an office at all

In today’s post I talk about the third of three trends for the way we work that will emerge from the chaos caused by the Coronavirus pandemic:

· Trend 1: The Rise of the Freelancers

· Trend 2: Collaborating through virtual reality and augmented reality

· Trend 3: Physical resources vs technology

Physical resources and the partnership between humans and technology will change

As the workforce of the future evolves, office space will change. There will be less need for permanent desk spaces as the use of freelancers increases. This means that traditional work spaces will change to accommodate the growing emphasis on the human and technology relationship. Individuals will be encouraged to collaborate and interact with one another and technology. The mundane chores will be carried out by robots and the more curious, creative and imaginative work being carried out by humans. This will result in increased productivity.

The world of work is a scary place right now. One can only anticipate that it is going to get worse especially for those companies who were already struggling with adapting to the new era. The Coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the move into a more advanced human/technology partnership driven era, forcing organisations to adapt faster or leave the work space altogether. Ultimately organisations and people will have to navigate a ‘new world of work’ post COVID19, one that requires a dramatic shift in workplace strategies and one that will require a little science in that thinking.

However, it can be said that there will be a positive outcome, that humanity will become a better version of itself. In this new era people will see past race, gender and religion. Technology will allow humans to interact in a less transactional way and with more care. The pandemic has forced us to pause and reflect. Maybe, just maybe, this will create a shift that the world desperately needed. It will allows humans to take back their rightful place in the world as custodians of the Earth rather than abusers. Reflecting on how the world has been degraded by human activity, at a time when humans are forced to change and slow down, their new interactions with the world can only lead to a better future for all.