At the recent Gartner ReimagineHR Conference held in Orlando, Florida, experts highlighted that while many CEOs are implementing new business strategies, a significant number of HR leaders feel unprepared for the impending changes in the workplace.
Jessie Knight, Vice President in the Gartner HR practice, stated, “Organisations are seeking to reset their strategies to reflect emerging conditions, but most feel unprepared to execute”.
Three Critical Gaps Identified
Gartner's research pinpointed three essential gaps that organisations must address to successfully navigate this reset:
- Collaboration:
- A survey conducted in Q2 2024 revealed that only 29% of employees are satisfied with their collaboration at work, a decline from 36% in 2021. This dissatisfaction is linked to the complexities of modern work environments, including the impact of the pandemic and evolving social dynamics. Russ McCall, director of Advisory at Gartner, noted that “employees today have more connections but less valuable collaboration”. He attributes this condition to the changes "following the COVID pandemic, broader social tensions and new technology that can isolate employees and depersonalize work."
- To enhance collaboration, HR can implement Guided Collaboration strategies, reshaping how individuals interact to increase the utility of existing connections.
- Skills:
- The skills gap is widening, with a May 2024 survey indicating that only half of employees feel equipped to handle unexpected changes in their roles. Knight pointed out that “nearly 60% of all employees are not getting on-the-job coaching that supports their core job skills”.
- To bridge this gap, organisations should focus on Collective Intelligence, which involves identifying dynamic jobs that require urgent skill development and leveraging technology to gather expertise from ongoing work rather than relying solely on traditional training methods.
- Technology:
- An August 2024 survey found that 41% of time saved through AI is wasted due to poor communication between employers and employees regarding technology's role in the workplace. McCall emphasised that only 14% of HR leaders reported that employees have a voice in technology decisions.
- Adopting a Human-First AI approach is crucial. This strategy prioritises employee needs and experiences in technology implementation, leading to higher performance and engagement levels among staff.
Gartner suggests addressing these gaps in collaboration, skills, and technology is vital for organisations aiming to thrive in the evolving business landscape.
