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The Shift: The Future of Work Is Already Here
A look at the future of employment explores five forces that will fundamentally change the nature of work in the next ten to fifteen years and discusses three key shifts that individuals can make to prepare themselves for this fast-moving work world.
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 12, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 30, 2015
This was an unusual choice for me. It probably deserves more than three stars, because I enjoyed thinking it over as I read, because I marked a lot of passages, and because I did not dismiss any of it outright, though I did create a raised eyebrow icon for marking passages I had doubts or suspicions about. In Part 1, the author, Lynda Gratton, identifies five forces that will shape the future. If you read the newspaper or other nonfiction, her choices will probably not shock you: technology, globalization, demography and longevity, society, and energy resources. Interestingly, she admits there are other possibilities.
Part 2 depressed me. It focuses on the "dark side" of the future of work: fragmentation, isolation, exclusion. It rang too true. Part 3 succeeded, for the most part, in convincing me that there is a bright side, though with caveats. Part 4 is where the book's title comes in: the shift. After laying out her various arguments and thoughts, she identifies and describes three shifts in thinking about work that she believes may help readers increase their chances of obtaining a "future-proofed" career. Gratton emphasizes that this future career will be "crafted", which means it will require making hard, conscious choices and accepting possible consequences.
I think she is on to something. She freely admits that predicting specifics is very difficult. She does not really attempt it. The book contains speculative future work scenarios that are specific, but they highlight her big ideas. (Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between her hard facts and elements of her scenarios. At times I wanted to look up facts because they seemed part of the scenario and were made up, but I wasn't sure.)
The three shifts she suggests are "from shallow generalist to serial master", "from isolated competitor to innovative connector", and "from voracious consumer to impassioned producer". It is hard for me to imagine our society, our world, managing that last shift in particular. Many people may not manage any of the shifts. I think that is her point.
There were interesting ideas here that may help you visualize your long term career plans or even goals for the next 5 or 10 years. I may try to share some of her insights with my children when they get older, if they'll listen. Some of her conclusions match what I might have told them anyway. It's just that the reasons for that advice may have shifted...
Part 2 depressed me. It focuses on the "dark side" of the future of work: fragmentation, isolation, exclusion. It rang too true. Part 3 succeeded, for the most part, in convincing me that there is a bright side, though with caveats. Part 4 is where the book's title comes in: the shift. After laying out her various arguments and thoughts, she identifies and describes three shifts in thinking about work that she believes may help readers increase their chances of obtaining a "future-proofed" career. Gratton emphasizes that this future career will be "crafted", which means it will require making hard, conscious choices and accepting possible consequences.
I think she is on to something. She freely admits that predicting specifics is very difficult. She does not really attempt it. The book contains speculative future work scenarios that are specific, but they highlight her big ideas. (Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between her hard facts and elements of her scenarios. At times I wanted to look up facts because they seemed part of the scenario and were made up, but I wasn't sure.)
The three shifts she suggests are "from shallow generalist to serial master", "from isolated competitor to innovative connector", and "from voracious consumer to impassioned producer". It is hard for me to imagine our society, our world, managing that last shift in particular. Many people may not manage any of the shifts. I think that is her point.
There were interesting ideas here that may help you visualize your long term career plans or even goals for the next 5 or 10 years. I may try to share some of her insights with my children when they get older, if they'll listen. Some of her conclusions match what I might have told them anyway. It's just that the reasons for that advice may have shifted...
April 14, 2013
Linda touches on a number of great points wich we might be confronted with in the next years in our work as leaders as well as HR professionals. As these points would ask a different mindset from us, as well as a different set of solutions, we need to start thinking NOW about how to be prepared for that future. In my view this is therefore a book you would want to read sooner, rather than later. Though the future she portraits seems sometimes gloomy to me, this might only underline I am not gen Y or Z, who populate that future of work.
She has an easy writing style, and the storyline is very pursuasive. After hot spots, this book again provides a mental energykick and gets your mind in motion.
I would think a must read for leaders as well as HR professionals who care about being prepared for people in the world of tomorrow. She might be off with her view on the future, as all views on future have that issue. I see the true added value of this book in making you think about the options for the future and guide you through future scenario's to fuel further thoughts.
Dr. Mark van Dongen
She has an easy writing style, and the storyline is very pursuasive. After hot spots, this book again provides a mental energykick and gets your mind in motion.
I would think a must read for leaders as well as HR professionals who care about being prepared for people in the world of tomorrow. She might be off with her view on the future, as all views on future have that issue. I see the true added value of this book in making you think about the options for the future and guide you through future scenario's to fuel further thoughts.
Dr. Mark van Dongen
September 12, 2022
Publicado em 2012 está não poderia ser uma reflexão mais actual sobre o mercado de trabalho. Desafios e oportunidades. Todos os líderes que pretendam ter uma visão de presente e futuro devem ler e reflectir sobre o que a Lynda Gratton partilha.
July 17, 2024
I think I read this book 15 years too late. That said it was interesting to see how much of her predictions played out, especially when reflecting on the impact Covid had on accelerating or decelerating change
January 11, 2012
In her book The Shift, The Future of Work is already here, Lynda Gratton takes a long hard look at future trends that will affect the future of work and through developing future scenarios – both negative and positive – she seeks to make concrete her findings by illustrating practical futures of what work might look like for a number of us. The book is based on very extensive research drawing on an extensive network of high level contacts enjoyed by Ms Gratton from her position as an academic at The London Business School and as such is, in my opinion, a cut above pure future visioning books.
She starts by outlining the five main forces that will shape the future work environment as follows:
- The force of technology and in particular the development of the cloud
- Globalization and taking a global focus
- demography & longevity – the dev of Gen x and y in workfoce and the trend to longevity with people working to a much longer age
- the force of society
- energy resources
Her dark side scenarios paint an ominous picture where these five trends see increasing fragmentation, isolation and for some exclusion from work altogether as they are left behind. This is what she calls the default future where the five macro forces shaping the future effectively outpace the possibility of taking action to craft a better future and individuals and communities fail to take the necessary action to prevent this happening.
Her bright side scenarios, however, paint a positive picture where the five trends lead to an increase in co-creation, greater social engagement and empathy and balance in people’s working lives, and greater micro-entrepreneurship which sees more people crafting creative lives. This is the Crafted Future where individuals and communities recognize the forces at work and take individual and joint action in a cohesive way to shape a better future for themselves by harnessing the five forces at work.
The latter half of the book concentrates on the key shifts individuals are going to have to go through to prepare themselves for the future.
These involve:
From shallow generalist to serial master
From isolated competitor to innovative connector
From voracious consumer to impassioned producer
She starts by outlining the five main forces that will shape the future work environment as follows:
- The force of technology and in particular the development of the cloud
- Globalization and taking a global focus
- demography & longevity – the dev of Gen x and y in workfoce and the trend to longevity with people working to a much longer age
- the force of society
- energy resources
Her dark side scenarios paint an ominous picture where these five trends see increasing fragmentation, isolation and for some exclusion from work altogether as they are left behind. This is what she calls the default future where the five macro forces shaping the future effectively outpace the possibility of taking action to craft a better future and individuals and communities fail to take the necessary action to prevent this happening.
Her bright side scenarios, however, paint a positive picture where the five trends lead to an increase in co-creation, greater social engagement and empathy and balance in people’s working lives, and greater micro-entrepreneurship which sees more people crafting creative lives. This is the Crafted Future where individuals and communities recognize the forces at work and take individual and joint action in a cohesive way to shape a better future for themselves by harnessing the five forces at work.
The latter half of the book concentrates on the key shifts individuals are going to have to go through to prepare themselves for the future.
These involve:
From shallow generalist to serial master
From isolated competitor to innovative connector
From voracious consumer to impassioned producer
January 7, 2012
This is the kind of book that everybody should read. It looks at the current trends and describes how our careers will be. Or at least the possible scenarios for it.
A must read.
A must read.
August 15, 2021
I initially picked up this book in 2016, after a year studying abroad in D.C. I had been pondering whether to pursue a career in International Development outside of Japan, or to give my shot at securing a job in Japan near my family, and had decided on the latter. My first thoughts on the book then were that ideas such as remote working and pursuing projects with a wide range of people from different time zones were too “ahead” of what I knew Japanese business and mediums of work to be like, and I put the book down after reading half of it.
Fast forward to 2021, the pandemic has surged across the globe, and I remember this book again.
The book depicts a future work environment where parent-child relationships between companies and employees are less of a norm, human relationships are becoming increasingly fragmented and more people choose short term projects and specialization rather than enduring long term careers and stability at one organization.
Now, I see my work environment struggle to pursue the future of work that this book had been discussing from its first publication back in 2012, and I find myself relating more and more to what the ideal way of working is.
I agree that communication through email was fragmenting my concentration and ability to observe and learn (both vital traits for “mastery”, which will become increasingly important for differentiating yourself from a crowd of generalists). I was fascinated by the idea that future organizations would place a bigger emphasis on culture cooperation and teamwork, given that the new work environment would be include people from different backgrounds and time zones.
Now I am not afraid to say I think that building ideas and making decisions with a limited number of Japanese people from similar backgrounds will only lead to conventional answers. Also, despite what older generations will think, our generation will work for so many different reasons besides money. This book saved me by affirming so many intuitions that I had about work that other people had denied to my face. It has given me a fresh perspective about what people I should be looking up to, and what sort of career I should pursue. I’m glad I was able to read this now, as work has me stuck in a block.
Fast forward to 2021, the pandemic has surged across the globe, and I remember this book again.
The book depicts a future work environment where parent-child relationships between companies and employees are less of a norm, human relationships are becoming increasingly fragmented and more people choose short term projects and specialization rather than enduring long term careers and stability at one organization.
Now, I see my work environment struggle to pursue the future of work that this book had been discussing from its first publication back in 2012, and I find myself relating more and more to what the ideal way of working is.
I agree that communication through email was fragmenting my concentration and ability to observe and learn (both vital traits for “mastery”, which will become increasingly important for differentiating yourself from a crowd of generalists). I was fascinated by the idea that future organizations would place a bigger emphasis on culture cooperation and teamwork, given that the new work environment would be include people from different backgrounds and time zones.
Now I am not afraid to say I think that building ideas and making decisions with a limited number of Japanese people from similar backgrounds will only lead to conventional answers. Also, despite what older generations will think, our generation will work for so many different reasons besides money. This book saved me by affirming so many intuitions that I had about work that other people had denied to my face. It has given me a fresh perspective about what people I should be looking up to, and what sort of career I should pursue. I’m glad I was able to read this now, as work has me stuck in a block.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2021
Although written in 2011, Lynda Gratton bold attempt to predict the future of work is still worth reading. Although some of the predictions for what the world of work will look in 2025 are still a little way off, her general premise is sound. We need to look at the value we place on our working lives and what it means for us. Our working lives will get longer and do we want to be in a rut or focus on doing something we enjoy. For me it's time to look at who I am in terms of what I want from work. Money is and never has been the motivation but mastery and learning something new has. Time fot a carer change
October 10, 2023
Another good read as expected of Lynda Gratton! Her simulation of the potential lives we might be leading in the future through the use of relatable characters never fails to get my hooked on her books 📚
January 16, 2018
In the future, we must learn more than two different skills deeply and combine them, create a new skill.
October 2, 2018
科技變遷、全球化、高齡少子化、社會形態變遷、資源/能源問題，這五大力量是主宰未來世界的原動力，本書提供面對工作全新的思考方式：了解自身獨特性，勇於實踐並時常反思，培養跨領域專業，多累積經驗，能賦予自己擁有更多選擇。適合正在規劃職涯發展的學習者，能幫助建立長遠的視野和有別傳統思維的工作態度。
April 21, 2020
An interesting view of the way we will work in the future
March 27, 2016
This was recommended to me by a Japanese friend - he read the Japanese version, which is titled "Work Shift" and confused me because I could NOT find a book by that title. But eventually I found it, and woah, is it a thought provoking read.
The book goes like this. First, the author identifies what she thinks are the most important macro-trends taking place. Next, she looks at six possible aspects of the future, three positive and three negative.
The negative aspects are:
1. Fragmentation - a world where a multitude of things constantly demand our attention.
2. Isolation - a world where the reliance on virtual technology and working from home has led to a dramatic decrease (and almost elimination) of face-to-face meetings.
3. Exclusion - ok, this was a bit hard for me to swallow, because exclusion exists even now. According to the author, the difference is that
To be very clear, I don't think the "specifics of your personal connections" part is a good thing, because it's got a lot relying on who you are born too, which is not something anyone can choose. But the natural talents and motivations bit? It sounds like a fairer world to me. The case study involved a girl who loves World of Warcraft and spends at least four hours a day on it.
Assuming that everyone gets the same baseline education, then I see nothing wrong in a smart and ambitious kid from Vietnam or Cambodia beating out a kid from a Western nation, who prioritises games. If there was a failing in the education system, or some intentional bias in there, then yeah, I see a problem, but other than that, I'm fine with it. I don't think that "where you are born" should determine that you get a better life than someone. "Natural talents and motivations" sounds a lot more meritocratic to me.
Again, I am assuming the same baseline education (i.e. everyone who wants to learn can learn), and that even if you choose to work only part-time because you want to game, you are still able to earn a living. Not a luxurious living, with trips overseas or fancy food, but enough to buy the groceries and pay the bills. I understand the future may be a lot more nuanced, but the way the author expresses the idea means that I don't totally agree that it's a terrible thing. Obviously, the increasing disparity between the rich and the poor is a bad thing, but this seems slightly different to me.
The positive aspects are:
1. Co-creation - Working with many people to solve large problems
2. Social engagement - Better work life balance, increased empathy and an option for people who want to, to be able to do meaningful work/take time off from work for long stretches to do volunteer work.
3. Micro-entrepreneurship - People making a living through ecosystems.
After this, the author identifies three shifts that we need to make:
1. From shallow generalist to serial master.
2. From isolated competitor to innovative connector
3. From voracious consumer to impassioned producer.
With recent events like the rise of ISIS and the sudden drop in oil prices may affect the accuracy of the predictions (either by delaying them or changing them), what I appreciated about the book was that it was truly global in outlook. Most of the time, all these books focus on the West, which makes does not really apply to a very large segment of the world. But this book has research done in India, Singapore (our Ministry of Manpower was a sponsor too), and the futures, while do not mention Singapore, are set in Brazil, India etc. I found this very refreshing, and made the arguments more compelling to me, because they seemed more relevant.
The other thing I liked was the use of 'case studies', where they imagine someone's life in 2025. It makes the concepts a lot easier to understand, especially since things like fragmentation can be a bit confusing.
Overall, this is a though-provoking book, and one that I would encourage everyone to read. (Also, you can tell that a book is good when even some time after reading it, it makes a big enough impression that you use it in your arguments on why we do not necessarily need to fear that the future will dehumanise us, even if it is a possibility)
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
The book goes like this. First, the author identifies what she thinks are the most important macro-trends taking place. Next, she looks at six possible aspects of the future, three positive and three negative.
The negative aspects are:
1. Fragmentation - a world where a multitude of things constantly demand our attention.
2. Isolation - a world where the reliance on virtual technology and working from home has led to a dramatic decrease (and almost elimination) of face-to-face meetings.
3. Exclusion - ok, this was a bit hard for me to swallow, because exclusion exists even now. According to the author, the difference is that
"the axis of exclusion has shifted from where you are born to your natural talents and motivations and the specifics of your personal connections."
To be very clear, I don't think the "specifics of your personal connections" part is a good thing, because it's got a lot relying on who you are born too, which is not something anyone can choose. But the natural talents and motivations bit? It sounds like a fairer world to me. The case study involved a girl who loves World of Warcraft and spends at least four hours a day on it.
Assuming that everyone gets the same baseline education, then I see nothing wrong in a smart and ambitious kid from Vietnam or Cambodia beating out a kid from a Western nation, who prioritises games. If there was a failing in the education system, or some intentional bias in there, then yeah, I see a problem, but other than that, I'm fine with it. I don't think that "where you are born" should determine that you get a better life than someone. "Natural talents and motivations" sounds a lot more meritocratic to me.
Again, I am assuming the same baseline education (i.e. everyone who wants to learn can learn), and that even if you choose to work only part-time because you want to game, you are still able to earn a living. Not a luxurious living, with trips overseas or fancy food, but enough to buy the groceries and pay the bills. I understand the future may be a lot more nuanced, but the way the author expresses the idea means that I don't totally agree that it's a terrible thing. Obviously, the increasing disparity between the rich and the poor is a bad thing, but this seems slightly different to me.
The positive aspects are:
1. Co-creation - Working with many people to solve large problems
2. Social engagement - Better work life balance, increased empathy and an option for people who want to, to be able to do meaningful work/take time off from work for long stretches to do volunteer work.
3. Micro-entrepreneurship - People making a living through ecosystems.
After this, the author identifies three shifts that we need to make:
1. From shallow generalist to serial master.
2. From isolated competitor to innovative connector
3. From voracious consumer to impassioned producer.
With recent events like the rise of ISIS and the sudden drop in oil prices may affect the accuracy of the predictions (either by delaying them or changing them), what I appreciated about the book was that it was truly global in outlook. Most of the time, all these books focus on the West, which makes does not really apply to a very large segment of the world. But this book has research done in India, Singapore (our Ministry of Manpower was a sponsor too), and the futures, while do not mention Singapore, are set in Brazil, India etc. I found this very refreshing, and made the arguments more compelling to me, because they seemed more relevant.
The other thing I liked was the use of 'case studies', where they imagine someone's life in 2025. It makes the concepts a lot easier to understand, especially since things like fragmentation can be a bit confusing.
Overall, this is a though-provoking book, and one that I would encourage everyone to read. (Also, you can tell that a book is good when even some time after reading it, it makes a big enough impression that you use it in your arguments on why we do not necessarily need to fear that the future will dehumanise us, even if it is a possibility)
This review was first posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile
December 10, 2021
A must read especially if you are in corporate world.
December 27, 2016
Author talks about some main ideas of the trend that surrounds the future of work.
Good ideas to sleep on to prepare for the future.
1. Serial Mastery. To be a subject matter in an arena to guarantee yourself value to the workplace.
2. Innovative connectors. Collaboration with professionals around the work to tackle certain projects.
3. Relooking at the traditional view on work. Fulfilling on both the material and emotional needs of oneself.
Good ideas to sleep on to prepare for the future.
1. Serial Mastery. To be a subject matter in an arena to guarantee yourself value to the workplace.
2. Innovative connectors. Collaboration with professionals around the work to tackle certain projects.
3. Relooking at the traditional view on work. Fulfilling on both the material and emotional needs of oneself.
June 14, 2015
من الكتب القليلة التي تترك لديك أسئلة مصيرية..
وهنا السؤال عن العمل.. عملك في المستقبل..
هذا ثالث كتاب أقرؤه للكاتبة نفسها وكل كتاب كان تجربة مختلفة..
هذا الكتاب يتحدث عن النقلات التي علينا كأشخاص، مؤسسات، ومجتمعات القيام بها لكي نتأقلم مع العمل في المستقبل..
تبدأ الكاتبة بشرح خمسة قوى أساسية ستكون محور التغير الحالي والمستقبلي، وهي:
1- التطور التكنولوجي
2- العولمة
3- تغير دينامية المجتمع
4- التغير الديموغرافي والعمر المديد
5- الطاقة والطاقة البديلة
ستشكل الخمس قوى المذكورة عالمنا المستقبلي مشكلة خيارات متعددة..
فإما هي خيارات تتجه للعزلة والتشرذم وهي الخيارات السلبية..
أو هي خيارات مبنية على التعاون والإبداع وإيجاد حلول مناسبة..
الحديث عن هذه الخيارات وتأثير القوة الخمسة يطول..
لكن الأهم هو النقلات الثلاثة الأساسية للأشخاص الذين يودون رسم مكان جميل لهم في المستقبل، وهذه النقلات هي:
1- الانتقال من العمومية إلى الاحتراف في مهارات معينة.. وهنا تتوسع بإعطاء بعض الأمثلة عن الوظائف والأعمال التي سيزداد الطلب عليها كالعلوم الطبية، علوم الطاقة البديلة، العلوم الإدارية المتقدمة، العمليات الإبداعية التي تتسع لتصمم خبرات الناس وليس فقط المنتج..
2- الانتقال من العلاقات السطحية إلى بناء شبكة علاقات مختلفة تهدف لخدمة الشخص إما من ناحية الأفكار، أو فريق العمل، أو العائلة والأصدقاء..
3- الانتقال من الاستهلاك الأعمى إلى الاستمتاع بالخبرات والتجارب بحد ذاتها.. حيث لن يهتم الأشخاص في المستقبل القريب بالاستهلاك فقط، وكما يحصل حالياً بالعمل فقط للحصول على قدرة الاستهلاك.. بل سيصبح الناس أكثر تركيزاً على اختيار تجاربهم بحد ذاتها..
ينتهي الكتاب بتوصيات للشباب والأطفال، للمؤسسات، وللحكومات.. توصيات تعطي تلخيصاً للنصائح التي تظن الكاتبة أنها أمور أساسية لا يجب على أي أحد إغفالها..
لو كنت تفكر بإيجاد عمل.. أو تفكر في مستقبلك وكيف سيكون.. على الأغلب لن تجد جواباً سهلاً..
لن تنفعك الهجرة بحد ذاتها.. ولا وظيفة ثابتة..
هناك صعوبات وهناك فرص..
ولتكون جاهزاً لها عليك أن تعرف ما تريد وما تحب أن تقوم به في هذه الحياة..
وأن تبدأ بتطوير مهاراتك حول شغفك لتوصلها للحرفية.. بالتحديد لحرفيتك أنت التي تميزك..
وهنا السؤال عن العمل.. عملك في المستقبل..
هذا ثالث كتاب أقرؤه للكاتبة نفسها وكل كتاب كان تجربة مختلفة..
هذا الكتاب يتحدث عن النقلات التي علينا كأشخاص، مؤسسات، ومجتمعات القيام بها لكي نتأقلم مع العمل في المستقبل..
تبدأ الكاتبة بشرح خمسة قوى أساسية ستكون محور التغير الحالي والمستقبلي، وهي:
1- التطور التكنولوجي
2- العولمة
3- تغير دينامية المجتمع
4- التغير الديموغرافي والعمر المديد
5- الطاقة والطاقة البديلة
ستشكل الخمس قوى المذكورة عالمنا المستقبلي مشكلة خيارات متعددة..
فإما هي خيارات تتجه للعزلة والتشرذم وهي الخيارات السلبية..
أو هي خيارات مبنية على التعاون والإبداع وإيجاد حلول مناسبة..
الحديث عن هذه الخيارات وتأثير القوة الخمسة يطول..
لكن الأهم هو النقلات الثلاثة الأساسية للأشخاص الذين يودون رسم مكان جميل لهم في المستقبل، وهذه النقلات هي:
1- الانتقال من العمومية إلى الاحتراف في مهارات معينة.. وهنا تتوسع بإعطاء بعض الأمثلة عن الوظائف والأعمال التي سيزداد الطلب عليها كالعلوم الطبية، علوم الطاقة البديلة، العلوم الإدارية المتقدمة، العمليات الإبداعية التي تتسع لتصمم خبرات الناس وليس فقط المنتج..
2- الانتقال من العلاقات السطحية إلى بناء شبكة علاقات مختلفة تهدف لخدمة الشخص إما من ناحية الأفكار، أو فريق العمل، أو العائلة والأصدقاء..
3- الانتقال من الاستهلاك الأعمى إلى الاستمتاع بالخبرات والتجارب بحد ذاتها.. حيث لن يهتم الأشخاص في المستقبل القريب بالاستهلاك فقط، وكما يحصل حالياً بالعمل فقط للحصول على قدرة الاستهلاك.. بل سيصبح الناس أكثر تركيزاً على اختيار تجاربهم بحد ذاتها..
ينتهي الكتاب بتوصيات للشباب والأطفال، للمؤسسات، وللحكومات.. توصيات تعطي تلخيصاً للنصائح التي تظن الكاتبة أنها أمور أساسية لا يجب على أي أحد إغفالها..
لو كنت تفكر بإيجاد عمل.. أو تفكر في مستقبلك وكيف سيكون.. على الأغلب لن تجد جواباً سهلاً..
لن تنفعك الهجرة بحد ذاتها.. ولا وظيفة ثابتة..
هناك صعوبات وهناك فرص..
ولتكون جاهزاً لها عليك أن تعرف ما تريد وما تحب أن تقوم به في هذه الحياة..
وأن تبدأ بتطوير مهاراتك حول شغفك لتوصلها للحرفية.. بالتحديد لحرفيتك أنت التي تميزك..
January 31, 2017
Thinking critically about the future allows us to make better decisions today. This is why books like The Shift have the potential to have a positive impact on our career and lives. Unfortunately, this book falls short of this promise for three reasons: 1) it focuses more on the present than the future; 2) it has too few bold predictions and actionable insights about the future and 3) it is missing a compelling conclusion or call to action at the end.
The best part of the book was the section with three recommend shifts that we need to make: "from shallow generalist to serial master", "from isolated competitor to innovative connector", and "from voracious consumer to impassioned producer". This section is worth an hour of your time if you aren’t already familiar with these concepts.
In contrast, the “five forces that will shape the future” were underwhelming: Technology, Globalization, Demography, Society and Energy Resources. A quick skim through these sections will show a collection of themes and trends that are, for the most part, already a part of our daily lives today. Perhaps the fact that this book was written almost 5 years ago explains why this section felt short of my expectations.
The book also featured several case studies in the form of stories. Through this format, the author presented potential bright side and dark side scenarios for the future. Some readers will find this format an engaging way to imagine what the future could look like.
In summary, given how quickly our world has changed, I would not recommend The Shift. If you are looking for bleeding-edge insights on the future of work, you are best to look elsewhere.
The best part of the book was the section with three recommend shifts that we need to make: "from shallow generalist to serial master", "from isolated competitor to innovative connector", and "from voracious consumer to impassioned producer". This section is worth an hour of your time if you aren’t already familiar with these concepts.
In contrast, the “five forces that will shape the future” were underwhelming: Technology, Globalization, Demography, Society and Energy Resources. A quick skim through these sections will show a collection of themes and trends that are, for the most part, already a part of our daily lives today. Perhaps the fact that this book was written almost 5 years ago explains why this section felt short of my expectations.
The book also featured several case studies in the form of stories. Through this format, the author presented potential bright side and dark side scenarios for the future. Some readers will find this format an engaging way to imagine what the future could look like.
In summary, given how quickly our world has changed, I would not recommend The Shift. If you are looking for bleeding-edge insights on the future of work, you are best to look elsewhere.
July 29, 2018
A very comprehensive prediction of the future or present (this book was first published in 2011). The author wrote the book based on rigorous research, which make the theories do become facts.
In summary, there are 5 forces that shapes world now and future;
1/ The force of technology
2/ The force of globalisation
3/ The force of demography & longevity
4/ The force of society
5/ The force of energy resources
These forces will cause many shifts, three shifts in business will be;
1/ From shallow generalist to serial master
2/ From isolated competitor to innovative connector
3/ From voracious consumer to impassioned producer
If we want to survive and be successful (by media definition), we need to adapt and shift our old way of working/seeing thing.
One easy way to check if you are on track to follow is from your answer from these questions; do you think that most people find new work through recommendations from people they know well, or from people they hardly know? Do you think that in trying to predict the amount of computer sales over the coming six months, the more accurate forecast will be made by the head of sales of the company, or by a crowd of people most of whom are not employed by the company?
If in both cases your answer to these questions is the second alternative, then you are already in the right track!
In summary, there are 5 forces that shapes world now and future;
1/ The force of technology
2/ The force of globalisation
3/ The force of demography & longevity
4/ The force of society
5/ The force of energy resources
These forces will cause many shifts, three shifts in business will be;
1/ From shallow generalist to serial master
2/ From isolated competitor to innovative connector
3/ From voracious consumer to impassioned producer
If we want to survive and be successful (by media definition), we need to adapt and shift our old way of working/seeing thing.
One easy way to check if you are on track to follow is from your answer from these questions; do you think that most people find new work through recommendations from people they know well, or from people they hardly know? Do you think that in trying to predict the amount of computer sales over the coming six months, the more accurate forecast will be made by the head of sales of the company, or by a crowd of people most of whom are not employed by the company?
If in both cases your answer to these questions is the second alternative, then you are already in the right track!
February 14, 2017
A good set of arguments and scenarios for the future of work. Pretty balanced as far as "futurist" speculations go.
November 28, 2013
Foreseeing future is always tremendously difficult, especially in terms of the revolution of technology. This book gives us a certain point of view even though we're living in a ever fast changing life. It is an interesting perspective that not only good-ole "globalization" or "diversity" but choices and productivity will be the name of the game. Personally I also do not believe that everything can be up and running forever, I quite agree to the insight the author provided.
One thing I felt peculiar was that she was so much obsessed with carbon footprint. Does she believe in this would be around forever?
One thing I felt peculiar was that she was so much obsessed with carbon footprint. Does she believe in this would be around forever?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2016
Interesante obra de Lynda Gratton, cuyo título puede conducir a engaño, pues nada tiene que ver con libros de autoayuda ni similares lecturas.
Gratton aborda el estudio del trabajo haciendo contraposición entre los tiempos anteriores a Internet, el proceso que vivimos en la actualidad y los hechos que, probablemente, se sucederán en el futuro.
El ensayo encara la temática desde una perspectiva histórica, antropológica y social, por más que parezca que su título fue elegido para servir de gancho a más lectores de los que, en un principio, pudiera captar. Recomendable.
Gratton aborda el estudio del trabajo haciendo contraposición entre los tiempos anteriores a Internet, el proceso que vivimos en la actualidad y los hechos que, probablemente, se sucederán en el futuro.
El ensayo encara la temática desde una perspectiva histórica, antropológica y social, por más que parezca que su título fue elegido para servir de gancho a más lectores de los que, en un principio, pudiera captar. Recomendable.
December 2, 2013
Great ideas! But I think they would have been better told via a cartoon or presentation. The book got too wordy and contained a lot of conjecture by the author. Not that it was bad, but I didn't find it so engaging.
It could also have been better told as a work of fiction. It was mostly fiction in the scenarios the author creates, but they were not so entertaining. The dissection of the scenarios could be interesting but I found it dragging on. Maybe different if you are pre-Generation Y?
It could also have been better told as a work of fiction. It was mostly fiction in the scenarios the author creates, but they were not so entertaining. The dissection of the scenarios could be interesting but I found it dragging on. Maybe different if you are pre-Generation Y?
August 3, 2014
Really interesting. Talks about 5 major forces which are changing the way we work, the impact of these forces and ways individuals might adapt or plan for these changes. Highly recommend giving it a read!
February 9, 2015
This book will shed a light on different aspects, but closely related issues in our current and future life. What is good, even challenge, is to indicate some steps to take in terms of shift in our lives. Those who are interested in different kinds of economics may receive interesting insights.
February 22, 2015
This book has to be read by everyone in order to get a better understanding about how your life will be 10-15 years down the line despite what profession you're into. Leaves you with an insightful thought and something to ponder over questions.
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August 25, 2012일의 미래
- 10년 후, 나는 어디서 누구와 어떤 일을 하고 있을까?
- 10년 후, 나는 어디서 누구와 어떤 일을 하고 있을까?
Want to read
February 20, 2013recommended by CECA career advisor Tanya Gillert on 2013-02-20
November 24, 2014
I highly recommend this book.
August 16, 2015
Helpful and thought provoking read, to consciously understand challenges in present labour market and future scenarios.
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