FUTURE WORK FEATURE ✨

​Starbucks, Walmart, Delta CLO On How Leaders Can Future-Proof Their Workforce​

The Future of Jobs Report 2025, published by the World Economic Forum, offers a clear signal: the world of work is shifting fast, with 66% of employers citing skills gaps as a key challenge and 85% prioritizing upskilling to meet the demands of a tech-driven environment.

As AI accelerates change across industries, traditional corporate learning models are no longer fit for purpose. Brandon Carson, CLO at Docebo and former learning leader at Starbucks, Walmart, and Delta, warns that companies still built for scalable efficiency—not scalable learning—are at risk of falling behind.

Brandon calls for a shift from static job architectures to dynamic, skill-based workforce models that prioritize adaptability and growth. Learning, he argues, must happen in the flow of work—supported by AI-powered tools that provide real-time coaching and contextual development.

Wondering what you—as a manager or individual—can do to stay ahead before it’s too late? You’ll want to read this →​

I keep a close eye on what our Future Work Experts are thinking, saying, and questioning. I break down the key conversations and brainstorm practical steps we can take to move forward.

This week:

​Phil Kirschner – Atlassian's Cost-Per-Visit: Evaluate Office's Purpose​

• Phil Kirschner’s interview with Annie Dean reveals how Atlassian uses the cost-per-visit metric to measure office value. By dividing office costs by employee visits, this metric shifts the focus from traditional measures like headcount to a more human-centered approach. Tracking visits helps Atlassian optimize office space, improve engagement, and align leadership decisions around employee needs.

⚒️ Take Action: Begin tracking office visit frequency and purpose within your team to gain insights into space utilization and uncover opportunities for improvement.
🔗 Subscribe to The Workline: Phil Kirschner's newsletter connects IT, HR, and Real Estate leaders to shape the future of work.

​Annie Dean & Molly Sands: Teams Get Overloaded with Information, Yet Less Informed

• Atlassian's State of Teams: The Future of Work Is Here report highlights a paradox: modern teams have more information than ever, yet feel less informed. 25% of time is spent searching for information, and 56% of workers rely on meetings or colleagues to get the data they need. 74% of executives say communication gaps hinder speed and quality, and 71% of teams aren’t leveraging AI to manage and discover information effectively. As Annie Dean explains, AI can only help when information is documented digitally—it can’t tap into side conversations or informal exchanges. To break these silos, Molly Sands suggests teams should replace meetings with context-rich pages or videos, commit to updating key sources of truth, and leverage AI before reaching out to colleagues.

⚒️ Take Action: Centralize key information, streamline communication, set up knowledge repositories, and leverage AI tools to optimize workflows and eliminate silos.

​Antony Slumbers: Leaders to Embrace AI for Efficiency and Office Innovation​

• AI is transforming work by moving beyond automation to hybrid human-machine workflows, boosting efficiency and innovation. Tools like NotebookLM, Operator, Deep Research, and GPT-4.5 enable domain-specific intelligence, personalized learning, and autonomous workflows. Managers should experiment with these tools, foster internal discussions on AI, and upskill teams to maximize its potential. The goal is to use AI for data-driven decision-making while maintaining human oversight for creativity and strategy.
• For CRE: CRE leaders must embrace AI tools to improve operational efficiency, streamline workflows, and reimagine the office as a hub for collaboration and creativity.

⚒️ Take Action: Schedule a meeting with your team to explore one AI tool and discuss how it can streamline your workflows.

​Anthony Onesto: AI in HR (And in Everything): Start Small, Build Confidence, and Enhance Performance​

• Anthony Onesto addresses the growing concern around AI adoption in HR, emphasizing that it’s a game-changer, not a threat. Despite 40% of HR leaders avoiding generative AI, Anthony advocates for gradual integration—starting with low-risk pilot projects like AI resume screening and bite-sized training to build confidence. Clear guidelines and governance are essential to ensure safe, responsible AI use, especially when handling sensitive employee data. By reducing administrative burdens, AI allows HR professionals to focus on the more human aspects of their roles, like relationship-building and employee development.

⚒️ Take Action: Start small by introducing an AI pilot project in your team, such as automated resume screening or handling employee queries.

​Brian Elliott: Rank and Yank is Demoralizing – Focus on Outcomes​

• ​Aki Ito (Business Insider): "Rank and yank" practices, aimed at boosting performance by firing low performers, often backfire, lowering morale and stifling innovation. Companies like Microsoft thrived after abandoning this method and focusing on feedback, coaching, and support. Adam Grant stresses that high expectations should be paired with the tools for success, not fear-based tactics.
• Brian Elliott criticizes "Rank & Yank" as demeaning and destructive, urging leaders like Zuckerberg and Musk to learn from the failures of GE and Microsoft. Instead of firing low performers, he advocates for outcomes-based management, setting clear goals, and providing feedback to drive performance.

⚒️ Take Action: Schedule a one-on-one with a team member who is underperforming to explore if their goals align with the company’s vision, provide constructive feedback, and offer support to help them refocus and improve.

FUTURE WORK ROUNDUP 📰

I track what’s worth your attention—bringing you the news and updates that matter most to how we work, lead, and grow.

This week:

​Workathon: How Work Has Changed and How It Will Change​

The "The United State of Work" report by Workathon marks five years since the pandemic, examining global shifts in workplace practices. It highlights the surge in hybrid and remote work, driven by employees' demand for flexibility, while noting the rise of Generative AI in reshaping productivity, with both opportunities and challenges for job security. The report also discusses the transformation of office spaces into "destination workspaces" to enhance employee well-being and experience.

However, the transition isn't without tensions, as many companies are battling the conflict between Return-To-Office (RTO) mandates and employees' preference for autonomy. A global snapshot study across 12 countries and a call for a new World Work Organisation to address workplace issues further underscore the urgency for agility, collaboration, and the integration of human-centric strategies.

​Read The Full Report HERE →​

​Lead Better by Asking the Right Questions​

Great leadership starts with self-reflection—ask purposeful questions to align your behavior with values and make better decisions.

Use three levels of questioning—self, others, and strategy—to inspire your team, challenge assumptions, and boost engagement.

In high-pressure moments, stay curious to manage "amygdala hijack" (the brain’s instinctive fear response) and maintain clarity.

⚒️ Apply the LOVE framework—Listen, Observe, Value, Engage—to lead with awareness, authenticity, and emotional intelligence.

​Boredom at Work, Explained—and What Helps​

Boredom at work is inevitable, but not all boredom carries the same weight. Recent research reveals that existential boredom—a deeper sense of purposelessness—is a stronger trigger for disengagement and turnover than routine tasks.

In a multi-year study of UN peacekeepers, who experienced boredom 90% of the time, those who reframed their expectations and focused on small, meaningful wins were twice as likely to stay engaged.

⚒️ Start by having one meaningful conversation—ask how your team’s work connects to a larger goal.

​The Post-Pandemic Workplace, Still in Transition​

The post-pandemic workplace continues to shift, with hybrid work now the dominant model (55% hybrid, 26% remote), but employee engagement has dropped to a 10-year low.

Managers are facing a “manager squeeze,” juggling disruption, burnout, and rising detachment as employees seek more purpose and clarity.

Gallup’s data shows that one of the most effective levers remains regular, meaningful feedback, which significantly boosts engagement and performance.

⚒️ Schedule a 15-minute weekly check-in with each team member to give strengths-based feedback and discuss priorities—small conversations, big impact.

​Hiring Hidden Talent: Veterans and Returners​

Amid a growing talent shortage, Schneider Electric’s CHRO highlights the value of nontraditional talent pipelines, including military veterans and career returners.

With 77% of companies struggling to fill roles, programs like veteran internships—which convert to full-time roles in over 80% of cases—bring in highly skilled, mission-driven individuals with leadership and adaptability.

Returnship programs also tap into professionals reentering the workforce, delivering 70–90% retention rates and boosting team performance.

⚒️ List the skill-based roles you're looking for and start exploring nontraditional talent pools where these skills are being developed.

✅ Leaders' Quick Brief:

• ​Task Masking Is on the Rise: When employees pretend to be busy, it’s a sign your productivity metrics need a reset—focus on outcomes, not hours.
• ​AI Agents Need Governance—HR or IT? Workday’s new system raises a key question: who owns digital workers? Managers must ensure alignment across functions.
• ​Intel’s Leadership Shakeup: A new CEO takes over as the company navigates layoffs, delays, and fresh government funding—watch for industry ripple effects.
• ​Trump-Era Labor Picks Signal Policy Uncertainty: With new DOL leadership in place, expect shifts in union rules, DEI focus, and enforcement—managers should prepare for regulatory ambiguity and advocate for clarity.