A group of senior HR executives (SHRAB) met recently at the offices of Unilever, NA in Englewood Cliffs, NJ. The meeting topic was "agile workspaces" and the assembled group had an opportunity to tour the facility to see first-hand what an agile workspace looks and feels like. We learned why and how Unilever started this amazing journey towards creating a twenty-first century working environment for its employees globally. We also heard about the payoff, which is impressive. We'll share more in an up and coming blog posting, but the key ingredients in the success of this initiative are:

• the adoption of flexible working practices that focus on results   
• the implementation of technology that supports the new global way of working (i.e. mobile devices, telepresence)
• the creation of agile workspaces that are organized around activities being performed
• behavioral and culture changes that support the new way of working

Unilever is one of 48 U.S. employers named "Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles" in 2011. We congratulate this progressive organization for leading the way in shaping the 2020 workplace.

How will HR handle the challenges presented by the ever-increasing multi-country, multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary, and multi-generational (not to mention virtual) work environment in which we operate today?

Boundaries are being stretched on all fronts - rapidly changing demographics, technology advances, blurring lines between work and leisure and the drive for increased competitiveness and innovation. To quote Jeanne C. Meister and and Karie Willyerd (see recommended reading on the right): 

• "Never in the history of the modern world have there been four generations - much less five in the workplace that bring such vastly different sets of values, beliefs and expectations.
• Never has a generation entered the workplace using technologies so far ahead of those adopted by its employer.
• Never has it been possible to acquire, use, and seamlessly integrate talent from around the world.
• Never has technology made it so possible to connect anyone anywhere asynchronously as a collaborator. Never before has society put as much pressure on organizations to be socially responsible." 

At AJO, we're seeing the opportunities and challenges faced by organizations as they build and manage high performing teams that can sustain their effectiveness, while being asked to do more with less.

A number of our recent engagements have focused on cross-functional team working and new team/team member assimilation. We'll share more in future blog postings. Meanwhile, ask us how we're helping teams increase their effectiveness in today's diverse work environment.

1. Built on Values. At the NJHRPG September meeting, Ann Rhoades shared her creative prescriptive approach to developing unique cultures; and her firsthand experiences in launching successful start-up companies, blending post-merger cultures and creating a legacy of people-centric organizations. Slides are available here.
    
2. Agile Workplaces. AJO's Senior HR Advisory Board (SHRAB) met at Unilever's NA location in Engelwood Cliffs in September, where its members were treated to a highly engaging look at how Unilever is creating an agile workplace for its employees globally. Members toured the facility to see firsthand what an agile workplace looks like, as well as to understand the role that technology and culture plays in the success of this initiative.

Up and Coming Events 

1. 2011 Innovation Summit: Healthcare Reform Strategies - October 12th, 2011. This half-day seminar will help healthcare and business leaders learn about innovative new strategies to improve healthcare and understand how to more effectively develop and implement programs and policies to help them better manage the rising cost of healthcare. Click here to learn more.
    
2. Knowledge-Based Decision Making and Future Scenario Planning - November 3rd, 2011. John Austin, Ph.D. is the featured speaker at the next NJHRPG. In this session, John will examine the future of HR by examining the implications of uncertainties on key success factors and future proofing the talent of your organization.  You will have the opportunity to work with your peers to identify weak signals to monitor and leave with a key tool to help you profit from environmental uncertainty. Click here to learn more and to register.
    
3. Senior HR Advisory Board - December 1st, 2011. If you are a senior HR leader and interested in becoming a member, please let me know. Click here to learn more.
    
4. AJO Coaches Forum - December 2nd, 2011. AJO's Executive Coaching Practice members discuss current leadership development topics, share case studies, discuss new books and identify best practices. Clients are welcome to participate. Please contact me for more information. 

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