Stretch: How to Future-Proof Yourself for Tomorrow's Workplace

272 Pages·2016·1.73 MB·English

by  Karie Willyerd

PRAISE FOR STRETCH
“In today’s fast-moving, multigenerational workplace, we all want more from
our professional experiences. Stretch provides solid advice on how you can feel
valued and in control of your career success. This book is one that will bolster
your spirits and might just change your life.”
—Lindsey Pollak, New York Times Bestselling Author of Becoming
the Boss: New Rules for the Next Generation of Leaders
“Our neuroscience research has shown that experiencing hope and dream-
ing of your desired future helps a person to create a path to that future and
ameliorate the ravages of stress and uncertainty. Willyerd and Mistick have
converted complicated research and emerging trends into a delightful
journey through their stories and guidance. Reading will do more than help
you prepare for the future: it will help you make your dreams your reality!”
—Richard Boyatzis, Distinguished University Professor, Case Western
Reserve University and Co-Author with Dan Goleman and Annie McKee
of the International Bestseller, Primal Leadership
“Willyerd and Mistick have the courage to expose a raw nerve that many of
today’s employees feel. They don’t shy away from the reality of the vulner-
ability many feel about not only keeping up with today, but also preparing
for an ever-changing tomorrow. Stretch brings hope and inspiration to both
individuals and organizations with specific tools, examples, and practical
ideas to move forward.”
—Joe Campbell, Talent Management Director, Nike, Inc.
“The future of work promises to be dramatically different over the next
decade. Disruptive technologies, big data, demographic shifts, and demand
for new skills will require new ways of thinking about careers and preparing
a workforce for tomorrow. Stretch tackles these issues head on with practical
advice for those in the workplace and for organizations that want to prepare
their workforces for the future. Those who prepare will seize huge oppor-
tunities and, with the workplace changes underway, everyone who wants to
participate in tomorrow’s economy should read Stretch today.”
—Eva Sage-Gavin, Vice Chair of the Aspen Institute’s Skills
for America’s Future Advisory Board
“Obsolescence. It’s the single biggest concern of today’s workforce.
STRETCH by Willyerd and Mistick is the answer. Study the megatrends
shaping how we work. Analyze their comprehensive data around why we work.
Then put their original and accessible solutions into practice. Want to remain
relevant? stretch, Stretch, and STRETCH again.”
—Whitney Johnson, Thinkers50 Most Influential Management
Thinkers, author of critically-acclaimed Disrupt Yourself:
Putting the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Work
“Research meets practice most eloquently in Stretch. The thought-provoking
ideas about how to prepare for a rapidly changing workplace will give you the
edge in future-proofing yourself.”
—John Boudreau, Professor and Research Director,
University of Southern California, Author of Lead the Work:
Navigating a World Beyond Employment
“Smart organizations are preparing now for the talent they will need for
tomorrow. Stretch takes on the critical and complicated subject of why leaders
need to be career makers. The excellent case studies and strong research
make this book required reading.”
—Laura Stein Fortune 500 executive and board member
“Good enough is never good enough when the bar is raised or the rules
change . . . and both will happen. Stretch speaks to this in a powerful way.
Willyerd and Mistick make the case for continual development in a world
that will be unforgiving to those who ignore this challenge, and then help
readers understand what it takes to engage in self-development in a meaning-
ful way. It is the book you need to read if you want practical steps to build
a meaningful, purpose-filled career for the future. This is not just a great
read—it is an important read.”
—Larry Peters, Professor of Management and Leadership Development,
Neeley School of Business, TCU, and Author of The Simple Truths
About Leadership: Turning Your People Into Your Partners
“Willyerd and Mistick do a great job of explaining how the work landscape
is changing and what we need to do about it. If you have a job or want a job,
then you need to read this book!”
—Jacob Morgan, Bestselling Author of The Future
of Work, Speaker and Futurist
How to
Future-ProoF
YourselF
For tomorrow’s
workPlace
karie willyerd
Barbara mistick
Cover design: Wiley
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Copyright © 2016 by Karie Willyerd and Barbara Mistick. All rights reserved
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey
Published simultaneously in Canada
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the
1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the
Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the
Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone],
fax [phone], or on the web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for
permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, [phone], fax [phone], or online at
www.wiley.com/go/permissions.
Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used
their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with
the respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically
disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No
warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials.
The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You
should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor the
author shall be liable for damages arising herefrom.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Names: Willyerd, Karie. | Mistick, Barbara
Title: Stretch : how to future-proof yourself for tomorrow’s workplace /
Karie Willyerd, Barbara Mistick.
Description: 1 | Hoboken : Wiley, 2015. | Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015027971 (print) | LCCN 2015039560 (ebook) |
ISBN 9781119087250 (hardback) | ISBN 9781119087151 (epdf) |
ISBN 9781119087113 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Career development. | Organizational change. | Vocational
guidance. | BISAC: BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Careers / General. | BUSINESS
& ECONOMICS / Workplace Culture.
Classification: LCC HF5381 .W695 2015 (print) | LCC HF5381 (ebook) | DDC
650.1—dc23
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015027971
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
To the girls we love,
our daughters,
Charis and Rena
Sloane, Tori, and Adriana

Contents
Foreword ix
Preface xi
Part 1: Introduction 1
1: the stretch Imperative 3
Who Do You Want to Be Tomorrow? . . . Megatrends That Will
Affect Your Future . . . Do You Have a Sell-By Date? . . . The
Stretch Imperatives . . . An Overview of the Five Practices . . .
The Story of Brandon
Part 2: It’s All on You 31
2: Learn on the Fly 33
Good Enough Isn’t Good Enough for Long . . . Learning a Living
. . . What Does Excellence Look Like? . . . Strategies for Learning
on the Fly . . . Learning Traps to Avoid . . . The Payoff . . . Stretch
Summary . . . What Organizations and Managers Can Do
3: Be open 61
The Importance of Being Open . . . Are You Closing Doors to
Your Future? . . . Accept Uncertainty . . . Stretch Strategies to Be
Open . . . You Are Not on Your Own . . . Stretch Summary . . . What
Organizations and Managers Can Do
Part 3: You Need Options 91
4: Build a Diverse network 93
What Is a Network? . . . The Two Networks Everyone Has . . . Why
Do Diverse Networks Matter? . . . Strategies to Build a Diverse
Network . . . It’s All About Options . . . Stretch Summary . . . What
Organizations and Managers Can Do
vii
5: Be Greedy About experiences 123
The Tale of Two Attorneys . . . The Experience Catch 22 . . . No
Two People Are the Same . . . Boost Your Skill Set . . . Strategies for
Being Greedy About Experiences . . . Managers Matter . . . Evaluate
Your Options . . . Stretch Summary . . . What Organizations and
Managers Can Do
Part 4: You Have Dreams 153
6: Bounce Forward 155
Don’t Bounce Back—Bounce Forward . . . Silver Linings . . . Pursue
Mastery . . . Fits and Starts . . . Finding Meaning in the Commotion . . .
The One That Got Away . . . The Workday Blues . . . The Recipe for
Springing Back . . . Mental Strategies to Help You Bounce Forward . . .
Maintain the Faith . . . Stretch Summary . . . What Organizations and
Managers Can Do
Part 5: Charting the Path Forward 183
7: stretch into Your Future 185
Ten Predictions for the Future of Work . . . The Top Ten
Capabilities for Tomorrow . . . The Home Stretch . . . Onward
Supplemental Materials 209
Acknowledgments 211
List of Figures and Tables 215
Appendix A: Research Methodology; Key Workplace 2020 217
Survey Findings
Appendix B: Essential Books to Learn More 223
Notes 225
Index 245
viii