In part 1 of Are You a Workforce Revolutionary?, I presented some out of the evidence in the marketplace that demonstrates the type of workforce revolution that is underway. This revolution may see far-fetched to some, but there are major cracks in the foundation of our economy that we have been putting band-aids on for a long time. Eventually those cracks will become a major breach in the dam.

One example of this is that corporations have been able to increase productivity while severely decreasing their number of employees. This is not a formula that is sustainable over the long-term, nor can it ignite a thriving economic recovery. Over time the increasing stress on our economic infrastructure is going to force several financial and business institutions to reevaluate how we view and approach the transitioning workforce. 

The key to this marketplace transition is a mindset transformation of the employer and employee. Here are a few brief examples of what I'm talking about:

• Employment will become a mutually beneficial contract to exchange value, not a one-sided, "take it or leave it" offer from a company. Current and potential employees will scrutinize employers as much if not more than companies investigate employees.
  
• "Hiring" will become a two-sided affair. Companies will hire employees to supply effort, knowledge, experience, talent, ideas, relationships, etc. Employees will "hire" companies to provide financial remuneration for their services, along with opportunities to develop their talents, knowledge, experience, ideas, relationships, etc. 
• Employees will more assertively exercise their power of choice of where they will work. Companies that fall short in the areas mentioned above will be the least desirable choice for the most qualified workers. Those choices seem much more limited when the economy is down and unemployment is high (but remember opportunity is in the eye of the beholder). However, this will not always be the reality in the marketplace, and people have long memories for how  companies have behaved toward the workforce during the hard times. 

As Sam Cooke's song says, A Change is Gonna Come, whether we believe it or not, whether we want it to or not. You can help lead it or get blindsided by it. Your choice.

What do you think? Is this far-fetched or closer than it appears? I look forward to your comments below.

In the past few days I have come across some very interesting articles online that got me thinking that a major workforce revolution is underway and most of us don't event realize it. In the past year we've seen the Arab Spring uprising in the Middle East and the Occupy Movement around the world take center stage of the protest headlines. But there is a quiet revolution that has been brewing for a long time. It's just that our economic troubles have managed to keep a lid on it. However, the pressure is building and the economy may not be strong enough to hold it down for much longer. Check out these headlines from just the past few days...

• More People Now Quit Than Get Fired
  
• More Workers Sue Employers for Overtime Pay
  
• Create More Happiness on Your Job By Having a Sense of Purpose
  

When I read these articles, one key theme that I discerned was purpose, or better yet the lack of purpose that is realized by a high number of employees in today's workforce. Through my own conversations, observations, and research, I have noticed an increasingly restless workforce. The lack of fulfillment is not driven by the lack of money. It's driven by not being connected to meaningful work that connects to their God-given purpose. People are looking for more than just a paycheck and are becoming more willing to take some risks to pursue different career paths, or even leave the workforce altogether and start their own ventures.

Unfortunately during this recession many employers have taken advantage of people and exploited them for their time, talents, ideas, and money. They forgot about the ancient, unbreakable, universal principle of "you reap what you sow." The reality is we don't have a clue of the ultimate impact on our overall society if the offending employers actually inherit the negativity they have been investing over the past few years.

This revolution won't look like the other revolutions I mentioned above or revolutions of old. People will protest with their work choices. Some will choose entrepreneurship over employment. Others will choose more meaning over more money. Many will choose a home office versus a corner office. Others will choose flexibility over (perceived) security.

I'm on a personal mission to help people find their purpose in life, so they can then the career that fits them right. If this sounds like you, contact me today. I work with individuals and corporations to provide strategies and tools that lead to more purposeful, passionate, and profitable work. This is the new normal.

Are you a restless workforce revolutionary? I look forward to hearing your thoughts about these trends in the comments section below.