Category: Business Trends
Business trends discusses the implications of economics, employment, mergers, acquisitions, and regulatory changes on talent, leadership, recruitment, and human resources issues.
The Churning US Labor Market… And Why We Need “Labor Anthropologists.”
While I’m not formally trained as an economist, I spend so much time with companies HR departments I feel like we are “micro-economics” experts. So in a confusing time of paradoxical data (low unemployment during growing layoffs), let me explain what’s happening.
The US Labor Market Is A Churning Engine
While it’s tempting to think ... Read more»
Labor Shortage In The Middle Of A Business Slowdown? It All Makes Sense.
Why do we have a labor shortage as we enter an economic slowdown? It’s an interesting paradox.
For the first time I can remember we’re entering a global economic slowdown yet the unemployment rate has dropped to the lowest it’s been in 53 years (3.4%) There is a shortage of people to take the jobs ... Read more»
Were All These Layoffs Inevitable? Perhaps, But Here’s How It Happened.
As most of you know, the technology industry has laid off more than 200,000 people in the last six weeks and each week we see more (this week it was Intel, Paypal, Splunk, and Pinterest). So let me ask an important question: were all these layoffs inevitable?
Well in order to answer this question we ... Read more»
Predictions for 2023: Redefining Work, The Workforce, And HR
Every year for 25 years I’ve tried to write Predictions for the year ahead. And this year, like none before, I think it’s time for something big. As you will read about in this newest report, we are entering a year which may redefine almost everything. Not to be dramatic, but when was ... Read more»
Understanding Chat-GPT, And Why It’s Even Bigger Than You Think (*updated)
Everyone has an opinion about Chat-GPT and AI. Engineers and entrepreneurs see it as a new frontier: a bold new world to invent products, services, and solutions. Social scientists and journalists are worried, with one prominent NYT author Ezra Klein calling it an “information warfare machine.” What has god wrought?
Let me just say up ... Read more»
Doing More With Less: Kill Meetings, Consider The Four-Day Work Week
The time has come: new research shows that workers want “less work,” and only feel ambitious when their work-life balance is in tact. In other words, the days of “striving to get ahead” are being replaced with a new pragmatic workforce attitude: “I will work hard as long as I’m paid for it.”
Research ... Read more»
2023: Business Volatility With Slower Growth… And Books I Loved This Year
2022 was a tumultuous year. High inflation, an overdue stock market correction, and continued increase in interest rates. Most CEOs see a slowdown ahead and so do I.
In January we will publish our annual Predictions report, so in this article I want to share perspectives and give you my favorite books to read next ... Read more»
Banking Under Siege: The Secrets To Digital Success In Financial Services
The banking industry is hot again: interest rates are rising, people are spending money, and consumers want a more integrated, digital-first relationship with their provider. For consumer and commercial banks, however, the last decade has been traumatic. Everyone from Apple to Walmart to Google to Mastercard wants to take their business away. And new Buy ... Read more»
Leadership In A Time Of Slower Growth
As we enter 2023, I think it’s time to talk about leadership, a topic filled with books, ideas, and consultants. And the theme I want to discuss, as we launch our new Irresistible Leadership research, is Leadership In A Time Of Slower Growth.
Here’s my thesis.
We Have Entered A New Era.
For the last ... Read more»
What I Learned From The King and Queen Of The Netherlands
People have been talking about the future of work for decades, and it’s always an interesting, controversial, and complicated topic. Well, this week I spoke at a very unique event in Europe that gives us new ideas how to address this large and complex issue.
On November 23 I was honored to address the King ... Read more»
Understanding The Tech Layoffs. Could They Have Been Prevented?
Time to talk about layoffs, a topic nobody likes. And while you may consider layoffs a “case of bad management,” let me convince you otherwise. In some sense they’re just a fact of life, and often we simply need them. Here is my argument.
The Growth Cycle Of A Business
Companies, like people, go through ... Read more»
The Story Behind The Book: Irresistible, Launching Now
This week we officially launch Irresistible, a book that has been in development for more than seven years. It’s a leadership, management, and HR book filled with stories, tips, and best practices from years of my research, consulting, and meetings with business leaders around the world. (News release here.)
Let me tell ... Read more»
The Economy That Just Won’t Quit: Why Jobs Keep Getting Created
Economist seem baffled about job creation, even in the economic slowdown. This month the US unemployment rate dropped to 3.5%, the lowest level in more than 50 years. The Fed, which keeps raising rates and trying to reduce asset prices, simply cannot stop the growth.
(And this is not only in the US: ... Read more»
Productivity Paranoia: The Design Challenge Ahead.
Last week Microsoft’s Work Trend Index discovered a profound problem at work: while 87% of employees believe they are highly productive, only 12% of CEOs agree.
This is a staggering finding. While employee work harder than ever, CEOs simply do not believe it.
Microsoft believes this is a symptom of hybrid work, but I ... Read more»
