Work life

On the other hand, 2040 isn’t so far off that we can’t use the present as a guide. We’ve identified trends that are already shaping workplaces (like a decrease in the appeal of higher education, the ubiquity of remote work, and an increase in corporate surveillance) and used them to help us make bold predictions about workers’ lives—flying cars not included. … [Read more...] about This is what our working lives will look like in 2040

A business story works the same way. Your audience wants the pizza—and they want it to taste good. Now, I’m not telling you to sugarcoat your ideas to make them appealing. What I am saying is that you have to meet expectations in a way that satisfies. If you had a launch that fizzled, your story (your “pizza”) is about applying lessons going forward—not describing the blunders of the past. Your audience doesn’t want your delivery woes, they care about their pizza, and they want it to be what they ordered. … [Read more...] about How to tell a compelling story in a business setting

Perhaps nowhere is that algorithmic taskmaster more powerful today than in an Amazon fulfillment center. The handheld devices that warehouse workers use to scan packages also allow Amazon to track worker productivity in exacting detail. Workers are held to “the rate”—a calculation of just how fast employees should be able to work. As workers redouble their efforts to meet the current rate, the pace of their work may increase, causing Amazon’s algorithms to set an even higher rate. Software assumes that whatever most workers achieve, all of them should be able to meet, consistently. Workers can receive automated warnings, retraining assignments, or even dismissal if they fail to keep up. … [Read more...] about In 20 years, your boss may track your every glance, keystroke, and heartbeat

KH: I have two daughters, 17 and 12, and I had a doula and midwife for the births of both. My first birth was as unpredictable and as dramatic as a birth can be, but because of the women surrounding me, I had an incredibly positive experience. I was so transformed by it that I considered switching professions at that time and going back to school to become a midwife! However, I said to myself, “You need to get a grip. You have an architecture degree and a burgeoning firm—that’s what you need to focus on.” … [Read more...] about Childbirth is a design problem

Apps that make you work 24/7 Finally, let’s talk about those work apps we have on our phones. These are apps like Slack, Microsoft Office, Google Docs, Google Sheets, AirTable, Trello, and Skype. Yes, these apps are powerful tools that can help us be more productive. However, they can also make it hard for us to shut off for the day when we leave the office, meaning many of us end up working even when we should be spending our free time relaxing, recharging, and hanging out with our family and friends. … [Read more...] about 27+ smartphone apps you should delete in 2020