asynco is our international community of practice, where members convene to share knowledge, expertise, insights and good practices about the future of work, as it is being created. Here's a round-up of what's been on members' minds over the past few weeks…
asynco News
September's Book Club event featuring The Last Human Job - The Work of Connecting in a Disconnected World by Allison Pugh proved tremendously successful. Co-hosted by Jennifer Sertl and Cat Barnard, the session was so engaging that a follow-up is planned for November. Recordings and additional materials are available for those who missed it.
Episode XXII of the bi-weekly asynco-nnected - Adventures in Working from Anywhere vodcast is now live, encouraging community reflection on what binds them together and their collective story.
In addition, the community is poised to resume year-end conversations about transitioning into The asynco Collective.
New ways of working (remote / hybrid / distributed work)
Gallup research presents an intriguing proposition: distributed work could enable fewer working hours whilst maintaining superior productivity compared to office-based work. Further evidence confirms hybrid work's permanence, with workers now spending 46% of their week in the office (up from 42% in 2022), regardless of senior leadership narratives in mainstream media.
The concept of ‘Third Places’ - alternative work locations beyond home and office - continues to gain traction as effective working environments.
Meanwhile, Toronto government employees are engaging in "small acts of rebellion" by snubbing RTO mandates, with Gallup studies revealing concerning trends for US government RTO policies.
Relating better
Rachel Happe's The Human Cost of AI has been suggested as a go-to read, with its emphasis that "care and time are essential to relationships, which are necessary to trust."
Lisa Oborne contributed some thought-provoking pieces on learning from indigenous peoples and understanding how deception, fear and suspicion cause historical harm whilst exploring concepts of transcending borders.
Emergent leadership models
Anne Applebaum's Autocracy Inc. sparked discussion about potential Book Club opportunities.
There were also exchanges on how "leaders treat location as policy, not lived experience," highlighting that RTO mandates stem from political control impulses rather than evidence-based outcomes.
Frederic Williquet summarised McKinsey's comprehensive research across 47 PDFs covering organisational design, AI integration, employee wellbeing, and more.
There were challenges to conventional thinking too, questioning whether office work is humanity's anomaly rather than norm, advocating for work integrated with life. The Behavioral Echoes podcast series launched, featuring community members, whilst the launch of Francois Lavallee's Educated Guests series promised some seditious fun and thought-provoking exchanges for those who take part.
Tech transformation
Laurence Lock Lee questioned whether GenAI prevents nurturing workplace relationships as automated services become primary digital companions.
Meanwhile, Patrick Lodge examined signs of an approaching GenAI bubble burst, drawing parallels to events 25 years ago and potential societal impacts.
New learning models
Lisa Oborne critically examined 200-year-old work patterns and their educational system origins, presenting uncomfortable truths about generational experiences.
Wellbeing
Lastly, the eternal debate continues between early risers and night owls, with current discussions suggesting night owls face challenges.
This had the community pondering whether sufficient attention is paid to circadian rhythms and optimal performance timing.
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Business transformation isn’t the latest software or project tool. Lasting organisational change happens conversation by conversation...
So, if you’d like to explore anything we've touched on in this blog or discuss any other aspects of the future of work or our community of practice, asynco, please do get in touch.
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