There is a new kind of workplace on the horizon, driven by a new kind of leadership…

 I was recently having candid conversation with some friends about their daughters entering into the corporate work force and their overall uncertainty around it. They expressed that they had always felt that the corporate world was still male-dominated, cut-throat, and just truly not a healthy experience for young women. The overall feeling of “why put yourself through that if you don’t have to” ruminated through the conversation as they brainstormed other viable options. And although the conversation was truly thoughtful and non-judgmental on either side, it secretly broke my heart. 

For generations, women and people of color haven’t been able to join the workforce in any real meaningful manner. There is still an uphill battle to get fair pay across the board, and women still struggle to get treated fairly as they navigate starting families while staying active in a business. It has been such a real (and often traumatic) experience for so long that it still incites fear into mothers that have young women joining the corporate world. 

I get it.  I do. I’ve had some not-so-great moments myself. But I also had to share some encouragement with my friend which was that I have been so inspired by the young women (and young men!)  joining the workforce recently because together we are creating a new kind of leadership and a new kind of workplace. Every generation and different background brings a novel idea or learned experience to the table that shakes things up. It’s because of these fresh faces and new perspectives that I believe that the days of “hustle culture” or the acceptance of a toxic workplace are slowly but surely dwindling down. I believe that we are now learning that you can lead with compassion, empathy, intuition, strength, and balance versus an iron fist—and most importantly, that those qualities do not equate to weakness or laziness. I believe that we are learning you can find balance, work your tails off, and have an amazing life all at the same time. And yes, I believe that that shift is happening because we do have more women, young adults and people of color sitting in places of leadership.

One word of advice though (for employers and employees)…It's important to not confuse work/life/balance with a sense of entitlement or laziness. I truly believe in hard work and that often does come with some late nights and weekends at times. You can’t sit on your couch watching Netflix all day while still expecting a “thataboy” for just logging into your computer.

But I do hope I can be a part of this global shift that believes that we are here on this planet to do more than just “grind” until we die. A shift that encourages a collaborative and balanced experience. A shift where we start valuing the efficiency and quality of that work that was delivered versus the amount of hours that it took. A shift where different ideas are valued and the answer of “that’s just the way it’s always been" is no longer accepted. A shift where you are not expected to sacrifice your mental and physical health for a title. (yes, I am sure other CEOs are shifting uncomfortably in their seats while they read that :) ).

And so while we discussed (and while I deeply respect!) that concern about her daughters avoiding those “old school work place experiences,” I did want to encourage her that those workplace experiences are changing because of daughters like hers entering into the workforce. The world is changing because we are encouraging it to- The world is changing because we finally have different perspectives, colors, genders, and backgrounds sitting in decision-making chairs.

Now this “great resignation” is uncomfortable, and scary for employers. We can’t make everyone happy, some things are simply out of our control or ability, and someone will always pay more at some point (its not worth everything…).  But I choose to look at this experience as an opportunity to evolve. How can we create a workplace that is productive AND healthy so we all win? How can we as leaders encourage, guide, and hold teams accountable all at the same time? How can we make all voices feel heard, put our egos away, and all grow towards a mutual goal?

Simple answer- don’t be afraid to create a diverse workforce. Don’t be afraid to hire people who will (professionally) challenge you. Don’t be afraid to grow and learn. We have all read the Steve Jobs quote “It doesn't make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do. We hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.” And I believe that every CEO will willingly agree to that… but you can easily spot the leaders that value their egos more than the growth that comes from admitting there might be a better way to accomplish a goal that didn’t come from their own mouths. And I think that’s the type of workplace that is slowly going extinct.  

Together we can create a new kind of workforce and a new kind of workplace, all driven by a new kind of leadership.

TD