What trends are shaping the world of work in 2024? We asked our experts on leadership, workplace culture, and tech to share their “trends to watch” and how leaders and organizations can best prepare for what’s ahead.
From changing employee expectations of leadership and workplace culture to how new technologies such as AI are transforming how, where, and why we work, discover what’s trending in 2024.
Leadership Trends to Watch
Global uncertainty, technological disruptions, social and cultural shifts — as we step into 2024, leaders are faced with yet another year of transformative change. We asked our leadership keynote speakers and experts, what trends leaders should watch out for/prepare for in 2024?
Increasing Demand for Transformative Leaders
Yassmin Abdel-Magied
Leadership and Diversity Expert | Social Advocate
2023 was a divisive year in many ways, with strikes across industries, wars erupting, and economic conditions still feeling tough, regardless of what the macro-view is saying.
While the lockdowns ended over two years ago, and the impact of the summer of Black Lives Matter is no longer as evident, the change in the social fabric is permanent. Combine this with a new generation entering the workforce, with expectations and desires quite unlike any generation before, and we have a landscape that is full of uncertainty, political landmines, and emotional trapdoors galore.
In times like these, there is a desperate desire for leadership that is brave, courageous, and transformative. This is not a time for “managing”, for doing things how we have “always done them”, simply out of habit or from a place of fear. This is a time to invite new possibility into the tent, experiment, and move into a place of strength. Leading from a place of strength, even when one is afraid — that truly is transformative.
Yassmin Abdel-Magied is an internationally renowned speaker on unconscious bias and transformative leadership with a unique ability to make complex ideas accessible to all.
Workplace Culture Trends to Watch
As businesses continue to navigate an era marked by rapid technological advancements, new business models, and evolving employee expectations, cultivating a positive and purposeful workplace culture has never been more significant — or such a strategic imperative for organizational success.
We asked our workplace experts to share the trends influencing workplace culture in 2024.
Competing Trends of Accountability and Psychological Safety
Liane Davey
Expert on Building Effective Teams, Improving Communication, and Increasing Leadership Effectiveness
I’m watching the convergence of two seemingly opposing trends: the return to accountability and the push for psychological safety.
During the pandemic, many leaders struggled with how hard to drive people. They wanted to be seen as empathetic and worried about adding to the droves of people fleeing in the great resignation. In 2023, with fears of a looming recession, organizations became less forgiving with many demanding a return to office.
In 2024, I think we’ll see a renewed push for performance and accountability. But managers will struggle with this because of the second trend: employees are increasingly intolerant of behaviours that erode psychological safety.
So that’s where you’ll find me… standing at the point where the competing trends of accountability and psychological safety are making things exceedingly difficult for leaders. Great leaders will optimize the tension between the two; others will get stuck in unhealthy and unproductive friction.
Liane Davey is the “teamwork doctor,” whose educational and entertaining keynote presentations transform the way people communicate, connect, and contribute to make an immediate impact on their organizations.
Tech Trends to Watch
The exponential impact of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are two of the most powerful forces re-shaping how, where, and why we work.
We asked some of our AI and digital transformation experts to share what tech trends their watching and why we should be watching them too.
Generative AI Accelerating the Cycle of Disruption
Shawn Kanungo
Strategy in a World of Disruption
Trust. Authenticity. Transparency.
In an era where the digital frontier is continually redrawn by Generative AI, we stand at the precipice of a new frontier. Imagine, an AI artist climbing the ranks of the Billboard 100, or a deepfake video of a political candidate spreading misinformation or harm? This is no longer sci-fi, we are already here.
In addition, the cycle of disruption will accelerate. Anything digital can and will be replicated by AI. What happens when a billion-dollar app can be reversed-engineered in seconds? It means technology is becoming massively commoditized.
Amidst an explosion of AI-generated content, the organizations and brands that anchor themselves with authenticity, transparency and brand integrity will win. Consumers and clients will hunt for trusted sources. The future is human.
Globally recognized innovation strategist Shawn Kanungo emboldens audiences to take unexpected approaches to innovation so they can disrupt themselves before someone — or something — else does.
Contact us to learn more about our leading keynote speakers and how they can tailor their event speech topics to cover the trends and topics your audiences want to hear about.
