The Times Are A-Changin’ And a New Breed of Project Manager Emerges.

Robin Weckesser is the president and founder of a3 Workplace Strategies

Over the last 10 years, we have witnessed a dramatic transformation of the workplace.  This transformation continues, as cubes with high walls and private offices with minimal glass are often being replaced with an open environment and a variety of work settings that supports collaboration. Thanks to the untethering of the desktop, workers can now move around the office or work virtually.  As the workplace evolves, studies show that open (or “hybrid”) offices typically promote creativity and productivity, improve the bottom-line, enhance the organization’s culture and brand, and facilitate top talent recruitment and retention.

While the move to open offices is inexorable (over 70% of offices today are open environments), it is fraught with challenges.  Today’s workplace often contains five generations working together, including Baby Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Z—all of whom have different mindsets and skillsets.  Baby Boomers and senior managers in particular often find it hard to adjust to new technology and environments that don’t cater to entitlement and privacy issues.