organizational culture Archives

Anger and Rage – Ideas and Innovations from 2040

Anger and Rage Issue 90, January 12, 2023 A group of white men wearing T-shirts, Patagonia fleece vests or zip-front sweaters, Allbirds sneakers, and faded jeans are sitting around a conference table. It is 7:30 in the morning. They are collegial, familiar with one another, and engaged in friendly banter. The senior team turns their attention to their leader who has just walked into the room; he looks exactly like they do. Two women follow him, dressed in the female…

Kevin Novak

January 12, 2023

Ideas and Innovations Newsletter

Back to Basics – Ideas and Innovations from 2040

Back to Basics Issue 82, Nov 17, 2022 How often have we been reminded to get back to basics? We live in an overprogrammed, overcommunicated, overstimulated world. Recently several cultural threads caught our attention, and when combined, remind us of how the basics in art and culture can have a positive effect on ourselves, our workplace, the organizational community, and society writ large in counterpoint to high-tech. Although we have been seduced to worship technology over the past few decades,…

Kevin Novak

November 15, 2022

Ideas and Innovations Newsletter

The New Rules of Work – Ideas + Innovations from 2040

The New Rules of Work Issue 69: August 18, 2022 What is work? Where is work? What work matters? Why do we work? The traditional work models are turning on their heads. It’s been a long time coming since the Industrial Age, but we are at a crossroads moving forward radically in how we view and manage work … and our workforce. Think of the current work-related cultural conversation: the Great Resignation, anti-Ambition, silent resignation, a next-gen mental health crisis,…

Kevin Novak

August 18, 2022

Ideas and Innovations Newsletter

2040’s Ideas and Innovations: Are You Holding Everyone Back?

Are You Holding Everyone Back? Issue 53: April 28, 2022 Some people are quick processors, others way slower. Some people are decisive, others less so. Some people thrive on structure, others won’t be boxed in. And some people are planners, others can’t be bothered. We all know the types: Planners get to the airport hours before the flight; their nemeses are always running to the gate. What happens when key members of a team don’t process quickly enough, are indecisive,…

Kevin Novak

April 27, 2022

Ideas and Innovations Newsletter

2040’s Ideas and Innovations: Role Playing

Role Playing Issue 45: March 3, 2022 We have written over the past year highlighting the necessity of recognizing the many roles we play, whether the roles are assigned or expected. Human beings can appear to be many different people throughout the day dependent on the situation or environment. We assume different roles depending on the situation at hand, although our core values don’t change. These roles may blur from time to time, but it is critically important to recognize…

Kevin Novak

March 3, 2022

Ideas and Innovations Newsletter

2040’s Ideas and Innovations: Workforce Reset

Workforce Reset Issue 44: February 24, 2022 The workforce is changing in real-time in terms of how employees want to be recognized, valued, and supported – and how employers are responding. Much has been written about the headlines Gen Zs are making regarding work, but the shifts taking place are not restricted to only one generation in our six-generation workforce. In parallel to employee demands, there are some sea changes that are worth noting that are subtly reshaping how we…

Kevin Novak

February 24, 2022

Ideas and Innovations Newsletter

2040’s Ideas and Innovations: Shared Purpose

Shared Purpose Revisited Issue 59, June 9, 2022 Back by popular demand, our newsletter on Shared Purpose is the best-read article we have published. It resonates because organizations today need a shared purpose to make a business sustainable. It’s not enough to have shared goals, an organization needs shared intent. Axios reports, “So much misunderstanding, tension and turmoil flow from thinking the other people are dishonest or out to get you. So, stop assuming the worst. Dig deep enough into…

Kevin Novak

January 6, 2022

Ideas and Innovations Newsletter

Ideas + Innovations from 2040: The Fault in Ourselves

The Fault in Ourselves One outcome of the pandemic is operating in a highly fractious marketplace with gender identity, economic and political distinctions often accelerated into polarization. These issues are not just external, they are also prevalent internally, revealing new challenges to leading and working together. At 2040 we find that these issues rise to the surface and become roadblocks to transformation when personal bias, conscious or subconscious, rules the culture, infuses decision making, and forms our personal and professional…

Kevin Novak

October 21, 2021

Ideas and Innovations Newsletter

Ideas + Innovations from 2040: How to Manage a Five Generation Workforce

How to Manage a Five Generation Workforce We are at an interesting inflection point: Five different generations make up today’s workforce: Gen Z, millennials, Gen X, boomers and the Silent Generation. And the Alphas are not far behind. Add to the age differences, the new rules of diversity and inclusion, changes in life stage definitions, individual and group values, and the impact of evolving societal events. For starters, 2020 Pew Research reveals 59% of Gen Zers say forms or online…

Kevin Novak

October 13, 2021

Ideas and Innovations Newsletter

Ideas + Innovations from 2040: Taking the Pulse of Your Employees

Taking the Pulse of Your Employees Many organizations are facing a Kairos moment, a moment they neither anticipated nor planned for. Kairos is an ancient Greek word meaning the right, critical, or opportune moment. Others might think of the Kairos as a crucible and defining moment. Over the past 18+ months, organizations have had to adapt and change quickly. Some have been successful, some haven’t, and some have had limited success, still on the journey. When employees’ lack of voice…

Kevin Novak

September 30, 2021