One humble guy’s vision of the corporate professional and workplace environment in the dawn of this new decade – the Soaring Twenties!

The Leasing Broker, Circa 1989:
My Palm Pilot reminds me I have a meeting to attend out of the office. I’ll need to refer to the Thomas Guide and photocopy the directions to their office. I certainly don’t want to stop at a pay phone and ask for directions on the way. Positioned on the cutting edge, I was the young guy with a PC on my desk – a Dell 286 as I recall – with a monitor that covered a third of the desktop. The older guys in the office weren’t going to get bogged down with a computer… “How’s that going to help you lease office space?” they’d scream from their corner office. Foregoing the Rolodex, I had full, automated access to my personal contact database in an early CRM called ACT!, which required navigation via DOS, before Microsoft Windows came along.

I’m proud to say that the foundation of my professional network was built in those early days when only one program could run at a time on the PC. Many of those contacts remain influential in business today, and some have become life-long friends. It was clear to me then that technology was going to help me apply traditional business practices with increased efficiencies and carry me toward a career of success.

A Hand-Built Network
The first few cold calls were horrendous, certainly for me, and probably more-so for the person I was calling upon. Nonetheless, as I returned to the office to transpose my handwritten notes into ACT!, I saw the value of each contact, the information gathered, and the foundation of a network that was slowly building. This database was built over years of prospecting and the contacts were personal – my property! I’d soon find out that companies saw value in my network, and consequently, in me due to the relationships that I’d cultivated. I’ve always controlled my database and it’s followed me throughout my career. It’ll provide value to me well beyond my professional career.

The Return of Personal Connection
Looking forward into the decade of the twenties, we’ll see how an acceleration of technology will change the way we gather and manage information, the way we work and the environment in which we operate. As we adapt to increasing stimulation from all sorts of media at our disposal, combined with our professional responsibilities in the palm of our hands 24/7 threatening personal connection, business relationships and repeat business transactions is imminent. The importance of building and maintaining the professional network may even be more critical today, as job and career changes will be more frequent. And, I’m not talking about how many connections you have on LinkedIn.

With the exponential changes in technology, certain companies and people will become obsolete in their current form, making them of little value. Having the vision to evolve and willingness to adapt will be critical for personal and corporate survival. Your network will be an invaluable asset to call upon for direction, introductions, consultation, insight, education or condolences.

Cartoon by Jeff Stahler

The Workplace of the Future
It will not be the open office experiment of today, nor will it revert to the spacious private office of yesteryear. By the mid-20’s, we’ll see the sprawling campuses and multiple floors of high-density corporate occupancy… make way for the Corporate Hub!

With an eye on sustainability, wellness, employee stimulation and retention, increased production and decreasing occupancy costs, major corporations will design their space for essential daily occupancy and non-essential virtual occupancy. What’s this look like?

The hub will be situated in urban centers or near major universities with easy access to public transportation. Its core elements will be strategically designed and placed within the hub for maximum workplace efficiency. The hub will be appointed with the following:

• Virtual Presence Theaters replacing the conference room of today, equipped with smart walls and virtual A/V for remote participation and interaction.
• All Hands Arena will be a piazza-type gathering area for all-hands meetings and social engagements. Virtual presence will allow remote attendees to be “in the room” with access to 360 views and full audio/visual interaction. As soon as a remote attendee raises a hand or begins to speak, their image is projected for immediate interaction.
• Department Neighborhoods will be designed within the hub and will include a mix of open collaboration area and an abundance of privacy rooms for uninterrupted work sessions. Standing collaboration counters, acoustically enhanced furniture pods, soft furniture and high-tech workstations are placed throughout the neighborhood.
• Lactation Rooms will be convenient and plentiful with all necessary equipment, storage, etc., provided as a service… Lactation Room as a Service, if you will.
• Wellness Wings will be designed to include everything from oxygen enhanced exercise/shower areas to massage, physical and mental therapists, a nutrition center, and peaceful/napping or recharging pods.
• Essential Occupants will have designated workspace within the Department Pods and easy access to privacy.
• Non-essential Occupants may come and go as necessary and are provided with hot desks or private rooms on a reservation basis.
• Indoor Air, Lighting and Power will all be wireless with every device controllable from the command center. This will maximize comfort and production and will decrease consumption and operating costs. Fresh air and oxygen enhancement will be programmable and prevalent where necessary.
• Accessibility for the physically impaired will far exceed the minimum federal requirements by employing robotics in combination with automated vertical and horizontal pedestrian transportation, making the hub a place of comfort for those who might otherwise be challenged with daily mobility.

In Conclusion
Increasing housing costs and commute times will lead to increasing virtual occupancy. Technology will continue to enhance the workplace for greater proficiency, accountability and interaction.

ProPath Advisors is currently searching for qualified and motivated talent for exciting new career opportunities throughout our esteemed industry. Don’t miss out on the Soaring Twenties! Visit our Careers Site now!

It’s not a secret that the construction industry has been dealing with a crisis-level labor shortage. As the industry overall is booming and the increasing need for new construction continues at record levels, the trained workforce needed to complete these projects has decreased significantly since 2009.

This labor shortage is a problem you may be experiencing firsthand. You may have construction projects designed and ready to go, yet insufficient hands on deck, creating challenges to both schedule and budget. No general contractor wants to commit to a project, only to discover they can’t complete the task on time because of the scarcity of skilled workers.

This condition can leave several business owners feeling overwhelmed. How do you resolve a problem that affects not just your company but the industry as a whole?

Luckily, there are few actions that you can take toward easing the pain of the current construction labor shortage.

Industry Innovation

The construction industry hasn’t changed much in the last fifty years. There have been huge improvements in building resources and tools, but the way buildings are constructed hasn’t advanced much during that period. That is all about to transform and, fueled by the labor deficiency, that evolution promises to come rapidly for an industry that is habitually reticent to change.

Instead of using masses of construction workers to build and fabricate onsite, construction is moving into off-site warehouses where the procedure has been largely automated, and where labor might be more abundant. Modular construction is advancing rapidly.

Provide Sufficient Training for Workers

Today’s workers desire opportunities to continue learning and growing efficiently; and, by offering training, you can keep them occupied. Providing training is a win-win tactic. It results in more vastly qualified employees for your business, and it also expands goodwill back to these employees; they’ll feel appreciated because of the time and capital you’ve invested in them.

Build on your existing staff. It’s a lot less costly to retain your current staff than to train new; so, as any strong leader would do, listen to what they have to say. Find out what benefits are essential to them. It’s easy to make assumptions about what workers want; but, making the incorrect move could end up wasting a lot of time and money. Maybe workers are concerned about the increasing cost of healthcare or about having a safer work environment. Discover ways to “hear” their opinions through anonymous surveys or during standard check-ins. Make them happy and you will turn them into a promoter for your business.

Women in Construction

Women barely make up 9% of the construction industry. Providing scholarships to women and access to STEM teaching will encourage women to join the construction industry. Diversifying this industry and forming worksites that welcome women is yet another factor to lessen the labor shortage. Reintroducing vocational training at all schools will provide more students access to the training and talent required to accel in the construction industry.

Target your Search

Posting jobs to online gateways or local press may not constantly get you the desired applicants for construction. Reach out to trade schools or academies teaching the skills you require; keep them apprised of your ongoing needs. Have employment postings present on university or college forums, and leverage work fairs and other events to increase your business’ visibility.

The labor shortage is not going away anytime soon. It’s up to you to be innovative in your search and flexible in your training.