Yes, we are finally in the new year, Dear Readers, so let’s talk #bigideas2023.
It’s about that time, Dear Readers, when the JMS blog emphasizes the pressure points from the previous year likely to impact us moving forward. Welcome to the examination of industry-specific shifts or #BigIdeas2023 that this blog believes will shape the decade to come. Undeniably, the disruptions we witnessed in the early days of the pandemic are still relevant today three years later. Keep reading to learn what strategic choices you must make to cultivate what matters to you in 2023.
Welcome to the JMS blog, your hub for success tips to level up your brand.
As a reminder, this website answers all your branding questions. If it is your first time here, this blog is the brainchild of JMStrategy LLC (JMS), a boutique consulting firm that offers strategic solutions to strengthen your professional or personal brands. Now, without further ado, let’s dive into the two-part #BigIdeas2023 series that outlines key takeaways to keep you ahead of industry-specific 2023 economic trends.
Hybrid work is very much a #BigIdeas2023.
Though many companies are pushing employees to move back to the office in 2023, hybrid work is still the approach workers prefer. And while the rumblings of a 2023 recession are getting louder, job seekers still expect offers to include a hybrid option.
Therefore, if companies are serious about attracting and keeping talent, they’ll have to continue to offer the much sought-after flexibility that only the hybrid approach can provide. In 2022, our work with teams has revolved around helping executives codify arrangements that accommodated a hybrid schedule without impacting productivity and team dynamics in a negative way. This blog believes that this trend will intensify in 2023. Leave a comment below if you agree.
Is saying goodbye to commercial real estate a #BigIdeas2023 crisis in a making?
Well, what do you think, Dear Readers? If the hybrid approach is here to stay, why should companies hang onto such an expensive overhead cost? Isn’t it time to downsize? Are the days of large and prestigious corporate space a thing of the past? After all, if employees head to the office twice or three times a week, do they need offices? Or should the company transform cubicles into bigger community spaces? Is there a way to repurpose empty conference rooms into high-traffic areas to accommodate a much-needed sense of community and creativity as executives schedule entire teams to use the space on the same days of the week?
Of course, this downsizing would impact most urban areas that depend on the tax revenue that in-person jobs bring. Small businesses surrounding these commercial building hubs will also take a hit at the lunch rush hour is likely to be a thing of the past in this era of hybrid work.
The 4-day workweek is gaining momentum in 2023.
Although this #BigIdeas2023 was a novel concept 2022 for us here in the U.S., it is gaining momentum in 2023. Now, the JMS team is not sure that companies are ready to embrace a 4-day workweek per se. However, no doubt working from home allowed employees to approach their work week with a never-before-seen level of flexibility.
Some employees chose to move out of state to trade the daily bustle and hustle of urban living for a more tranquil layback landscape of the middle of the country (i.e., Montana) or southern destinations such as Texas or Florida. But in most cases, employees enjoyed having the freedom to choose their hours. And that’s how the 4-day workweek became an attractive alternative to the now archaic 9-to-5 model. By frontloading the work on four days, we found that JMS clients saw a 25% boost in team productivity. This blog cannot imagine a world where companies can return to the one-size-fits-all inflexible model of working from 9 am to 5 pm.
Union effort uptick is perhaps the deepest pressure point on work-related #BigIdeas2023.
Dear Readers, last year was disruptive for big corporations. Union efforts rocked daily operations at Amazon and hundreds of Starbucks stores. We seemed to have heard about strikes for wage concessions and better workplace conditions every other week in 2022. Dear Readers, make no mistakes companies will fight tooth and nail to reverse all these gains. Allegedly, Starbucks has already seen a path to an Appeals Court challenge to union victory.
Given the economic uncertainty on the horizon, between 40-year high inflation, rumblings of a possible recession, and more layoffs coming beyond the tech industry, will the union effort uptick continue to a pressure point in 2023? This blog warns that the uptick is likely to intensify. Indeed, it is hubris for companies to think they can force employees to return to pre-pandemic working conditions. Too much has changed. The pandemic-related disruptions emboldened employees to fight for more. Let’s brace ourselves for even more protests, picket lines, and walkouts!
Should investing in a 4-year degree be part of the #BigIdeas2023 conversation?
Dear Readers, as you know, going to college keeps getting more expensive. No wonder so many kids on YouTube are forgoing attending college for the excitement of becoming an influencer.
Honestly, Dear Readers, has the quality of a college degree increased with the steep price inflation we’ve seen over the last 20 years? How many of your children cannot find a job that pays decently enough to cover student debt payments and living expenses? Is this model archaic?
One thing is sure, Dear Readers, this blog does not want to see you chained to crushing student debt for an education that does not guarantee job placement unless, of course, the degree is in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). In short, Dear Readers, be strategic and do not buy into the college hype. It might be more strategic to start working right out of high school for a year or two before choosing to attend college. That way, youngsters have the time to solidify career plans before shelling out thousands of dollars, don’t you think, Dear Readers?
Final take on the first installment of #BigIdeas2023.
There you have it! The JMS team thanks you, Dear Readers, for taking the time to read #BigIdeas2023, part one. What are your thoughts? Do you agree with our analysis, or do you think that we’ve missed anything? Come back next week to find out trends to be aware of for the future of the nation edition of this series.
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