Taking the Future of Work into our own hands

A timely post from Mercer about how we should actively manage our careers, by taking the Future of Work into our own hands... Given how this resonates with Protagion’s principles, we’re bringing it to our readers’ and members’ attention too through a summary below and a link to the full article.

The future of work is whatever we make it. 
​Be immersed in it, not a bystander.”
CHRISTINA DOVE

The original post was written by Christina Dove, Partner at Mercer. Christina is based in the United Kingdom, and is Continuous Improvement Leader for Europe & Global Delivery. She’s worked at Mercer for 30+ years, having joined Mercer as an actuarial student in 1988. In her current role, she is responsible for creating a lean business culture within Mercer globally, delivering global transformation projects. Her team of 25 crosses the United States, Portugal, Poland, the United Kingdom and India.

Referencing Mercer’s Global Talent Trends 2018 report, Christina’s article asserts that, as the future is here, the onus is on us – individuals and employers – to determine our own roles in it.

​She sets out five suggestions on how we can take the future of work into our own hands:

1) Take personal responsibility to shape our own future, based on our values, dreams and passions that motivate and inspire us
2) Accept help and learn to delegate, empowering and encouraging your team i.e. collaborative growth and teamwork
3) Embrace technology to improve your work experience and investigate how to make best use of new tools
4) Recognise flexible work as a win-win – it will continue to become a greater part of our lives in the future of work
5) Make your own future, but most of all, have fun: seek roles or projects where you feel “flow” or “in the zone”

Mercer’s original post can be found here: https://www.mercer.com/our-thinking/career/voice-on-talent/the-future-of-work-whose-job-is-it-anyway.html

Some additional information on point (4) above about flexible working: Christina herself is a role model for flexible working, having worked part-time herself since first reducing her work hours to spend more time with her children when they were growing up. Now she uses the time to invest in her own physical and mental wellbeing and to give back (including charity bike rides). She was recognised in the 2018 Timewise Power 50 list, which identified the UK’s “top flexible workers who are delivering in high-earning, business-critical roles with non-traditional working patterns”.

Christina explains: “...It is possible to have a fulfilling and rewarding career, whilst working part-time. Mind, body and spirit equilibrium are very important to me, and by taking personal control in all three of these areas, I have been able to find the right balance to thrive both in my professional and personal life. Mercer, my colleagues and family have all been pivotal in making flexible working successful for me, and I appreciate everyone who has supported me over the years.”

She particularly values supporting and helping men and women at Mercer to achieve their career goals whilst working part-time or flexible hours, and she is proud to see other part-time women, whom she has mentored, or managed, achieve promotion. Christina also believes it is important that people in senior roles act as role models to help other employees to increase their confidence in the workplace.

And, for more career suggestions from Mercer:
Regular readers of Protagion’s posts will know that last year we spoke with the CEO of Mercer UK, Fiona Dunsire, about her career journey and her suggestions for others wanting to reach the top. Fiona also joined Mercer as an actuarial student, and is a firm believer that “there is no straight line career path”. In our article published in “The Actuary” magazine, Fiona shared some excellent career advice around taking others’ views into account, balancing objectivity and passion, and developing broader skills and exposure to other areas to build your career.