The world is increasingly uncertain. Rapidly-moving technology means the future of work is fluid, and businesses must plan for change.

That was the premise of our recent Illuminate dinner discussion. We were joined by Steve Wells, a futurist who looks at signals and trends in the world to understand the variability of the future and the different expectations of various generations.

Steve says that businesses must think about future-proofing themselves and looking further ahead – up to 50 years ahead. As well as using data to plan for the near future we can scan the horizon and consider how we will adapt longer-term.

An explosion of developments

An explosion of scientific and technological developments has led to new ways for businesses to operate. AI, machine learning, robotics, blockchain – all these technologies are changing the business landscape. It’s easy to see how fears arise that technology is ‘taking over’ and removing human involvement. But if we understand technology, we can use it to shape the future, and we can drive change.

That doesn’t mean everyone should become a coder or an expert, but we all require a level of digital literacy to understand the landscape.

Future-proof skills

This has a direct effect on recruitment. When bringing new talent in, businesses must recruit for the future as well as the immediate need.

As well as technical skills, it’s important to consider the skills that help an organisation to be agile – innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship and collaboration.

Leadership is key and empathy is crucial. Future business leaders need the skills to deal with ambiguity and change. This may include listening to the concerns of workers whose roles are changing, and supporting different ways of working – flexibility, globally-dispersed teams, greater collaboration, using technology in different ways.

And this doesn’t just apply to generation Z. Businesses must accommodate and support all generations. Young people entering work for the first time may be able to challenge mindsets or reverse-mentor colleagues who are less confident with technology.

The workforce of tomorrow will operate in an exciting environment and must be ready to embrace change. At Bright Network we want to give young people the best chance to get a great career, and that means supporting them to discover and develop skills for the long-term. After all, their future role may not even exist yet.