November being the penultimate month of the year, there’s a lot to reflect on around HR, talent and the workplace. One caveat to get out of the way: I’m not addressing the implications of the election here. I think we all need time to process, no matter where we fall on the political spectrum. Here’s a short list — and an informal challenge for all my colleagues and friends:
An Old-Fashioned, Splashy HR Tech Event
Most everyone seemed to have an amazing and meaningful time at SAP #SuccessConnect in Lisbon. I will be sharing some thoughts on that event soon, but there was one thing that made attending in person so memorable.
Like so many attendees, I was reminded of the pre-pandemic HR and HRTech conferences and events we had before face-to-face happenings pretty much shut down. Remember those? SAP did a great job curating a seamless schedule with a lot of truly compelling experts. The presentations brought some real dazzle and intelligence to a hybrid format — whether there or at the livestream, you got the same sense of excitement. HR tech companies: if you’re looking for a way to reach your audience, this is it.
Comparing Halloween Costumes and Politics
Anyone see the recent SHRM piece on best practices for dealing with employee Halloween costumes and political differences around election season? It was an interesting combination: how to make sure people wear work-appropriate Halloween costumes, and how to deal with rising political tension right now.
But does this combination strike you as a bit too timely, or was it just me? Are we at the point in history where we need to tread that carefully around politics? How are elections like Halloween? I’m not sure SHRM intended to provoke that kind of thinking, but I’m giving props for it anyway.
Are Gen Z Employees an Easy Mark?
Another thought-provoking post is this one by Zachary Amos, which I was happy to publish here. Yes: Generation Z did indeed grow up as digital natives. But they’re not always that savvy about cybersecurity — and it turns out they’re more than twice as likely as baby boomers to have their social media accounts hacked, three times more likely to fall victim to an online scam.
Does Gen Z just treat the whole digital ecosystem too casually? Are the boundaries between work and life so blurry that cybercrime got an easy in? Lots to consider here for HR, including setting and communicating clear guardrails around digital security
Thinking Robots
Is this a step towards a future of robot / human job replacement? AI startup Physical Intelligence just made headlines for raising $400 million in funding (with players including Jeff Bezos, Thrive Capital, Lux Capital, and OpenAI).
We’re now looking at a company valued at some $2 billion — focused on creating universal software that goes way beyond just software for tasks. It’s making robot brains, in essence. So yes, it may get a little harder to convince some layers of the workforce that their jobs won’t be obsolete. Keep your eyes on this one.
Putting the Kibosh on Job Creation
What hampers job creation, as well as the data that describes how we’re doing? Hurricanes, for one — this year Milton and Helene triggered serious data collection issues. Labor strikes — the Boeing machinists’ strike alone took 33,000 jobs off the rolls. Maybe also a very turbulent political climate, as employers hedge their bets.
But the U.S. economy’s last jobs report before the election is… weak, with just some 12,000 jobs added, according to the BLS. That’s the lowest monthly gain since December 2020. Should we be cautious, or optimistic, or cautiously optimistic? Something tells me we’ll know pretty soon.
C-Suite Headaches
I’ll admit that I love posts about the challenges facing business leaders, and I say that without irony. Leadership is an honor but it can be a minefield, especially today, and it’s good to feel seen. Inc’s 2024 CEO survey of leaders from some 5000 companies found that burnout, loneliness, being responsible for X thousands of people, and delegating are among the toughest challenges CEOs face today.
That said, I want to remind leaders that sometimes, we didn’t really ask to be in this position. We had other objectives besides that corner office. Often, what got us there was the desire to make a difference. Consider what Lisa Haisha said, as quoted in a Forbes roundup earlier this year: “Great leaders don’t set out to be a leader, they set out to make a difference. It’s never about the role, it’s always about the goal.” I’ve seen that sense of mission in so many admirable business leaders lately. But I’ve also seen it wear them down.
My Challenge to You
So here’s my challenge: Maybe it’s time to set a goal to make a difference in your own life. Truly take care of yourself. These are turbulent times, after all. You know what they say on the airplane: In the event of an emergency, place the oxygen mask on yourself first.
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