use, the materials we build with, and how we invest. It will also give rise to new industries and ultimately a green economy . . . all important ways that the world of work is changing.
As blogger and technology evangelist Robert Scoble once noted, “Change is inevitable, and the disruption it causes often brings both inconvenience and opportunity.”19 As you will see, history is replete with organizations that failed to see change as a chance to evolve. It's also full of visionary organizations that fought back their fears to seize new opportunity.
Those who continue to do business as usual despite the storm of change will become disrupted. They will fade into obscurity as savvy new organizations—disruptors—take their place . . . winning over the customers and employees of those other companies with a responsive new approach to the world around them.
Companies that flex own the future, as you will see.
Key Learning Points
1 The current pace of change is unprecedented in the history of the world. That's creating a pressure-cooker environment in the American workplace.
2 Minority populations are rapidly taking the place of the Caucasian majority of the past. Plus, millennials are taking over. Successful organizations will use inclusive hiring and engagement practices or lose the war on talent if they provide only lip service to diversity initiatives instead.
3 Our system of education is out of step with the ways the world of work is changing and so is not meeting critical needs of employers for skilled workers. K–12, high school, college, and vocational training must undergo a radical shift to keep America competitive in the global marketplace.
4 The way we communicate is changing due to both generational preferences and technological innovation. Misaligned communications are resulting in a dangerously conflict-avoidant work culture.
5 Climate change will change how we do business, and affect energy use, building materials, and how we invest. Ultimately, it will drive the adoption of a green economy and, perhaps, global cooperation.
Notes
1 1. Frey, William H. “The U.S. Will Become ‘Minority White’ in 2045, Census Projects.” Brookings Institution. March 14, 2018. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/the-avenue/2018/03/14/the-us-will-become-minority-white-in-2045-census-projects/
2 2. Teare, Gené. “Study of Gender Diversity in Private Company Boardrooms.” Crunchbase.com. December 11, 2019. https://news.crunchbase.com/news/2019-study-of-gender-diversity-in-private-company-boardrooms/
3 3. United States Census Bureau. “Older People Projected to Outnumber Children for First Time in U.S. History.” March 13, 2018. https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2018/cb18-41-population-projections.html
4 4. Ibid.
5 5. Schaeffer, Katherine. “U.S. Has Changed in Key Ways in the Past Decade, from Tech Use to Demographics.” Pew Research Center. December 20, 2019. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/12/20/key-ways-us-changed-in-past-decade/
6 6. Centers for Disease Control National Center for Health Statistics. “Trends in Fertility and Mother's Age at First Birth Among Rural and Metropolitan Counties: United States, 2007–2017.” National Vital Statistics System, 2007–2017. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db323_table-508.pdf#1
7 7. Grawe, Nathan. “Americans Are Having Fewer Kids. What Will That Mean for Higher Education?” Harvard Business Review. October 17, 2019. https://hbr.org/2019/10/americans-are-having-fewer-kids-what-will-that-mean-for-higher-education
8 8. Grawe, Nathan. “Demographic Changes Pose Challenges for Higher Education.” Econofact.Org. July 29, 2018. https://econofact.org/demographic-changes-pose-challenges-for-higher-education
9 9. Fry, Richard, and Paul Taylor. “Hispanic High School Graduates Pass Whites in Rate of College Enrollment.” Pew Research Center. May 9, 2013. https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/2013/05/09/hispanic-high-school-graduates-pass-whites-in-rate-of-college-enrollment/
10 10. Ibid.
11 11. Gross, Ashley, and John Marcus. “High-Paying Trade Jobs Sit Empty, While High School Grads Line Up for University.” All Things Considered. NPR. April 25, 2018. https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/04/25/605092520/high-paying-trade-jobs-sit-empty-while-high-school-grads-line-up-for-university
12 12. Erard, Michael. “How the English Language Has Evolved Like a Living Creature.” Science. November 1, 2017. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/11/how-english-language-has-evolved-living-creature
13 13. XPressPlanet. “7 Best Technological Inventions of 21st Century.” June 30, 2017. http://xpressplanet.com/greatest-technological-inventions/
14 14. Stillman, Jessica. “Breakthrough Technologies That Are About to Change the World.” Inc. Aril 25, 2017. https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/10-breakthrough-technologies-that-are-about-to-change-the-world.html
15 15. Kaufman, Ellie, Ross Levitt, Rene Marsh, and Gregory Wallace. “How Climate Change Will Impact the US.” CNN. November 27, 2018. https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/27/health/climate-change-impact-by-region/index.html