Gone are the days of rigid workplace hierarchies; we’re witnessing a shift towards flatter, more fluid structures. Open workspaces are becoming the norm, designed to foster interaction and teamwork.
Progressive organizational cultures prioritize trust, shared vision, and mutual respect. This change is partly driven by younger generations who expect to be consulted and involved in decision-making. Digital collaboration tools also mean teamwork is now an ongoing process, not just confined to meetings. The rise of hybrid work further complicates collaboration, requiring intentional effort to bridge the gap between remote and in-office teams.
They have changed quite significantly. I would say, from the start of my career in HR and learning and development, I’ve seen models where organizations that tended to be more hierarchical in nature have really shifted to flatter, more fluid models of operation. And a lot of them have established open workplaces to encourage greater collaboration between individuals and teams.
There’s also a lot more progressive organizational cultures that place a greater emphasis on trust and establishing a shared vision and purpose and mutual respect. And we see the shift coming from… I would say it’s more generational in nature, with younger generations having bigger expectations that they be consulted and involved in the day-to-day work.
And of course, since COVID, we’ve seen an increase in the number of teams engaging in hybrid work, which has challenged our traditional methods of collaboration. Especially when you’ve got some people working from home full time, others, perhaps in the office, or a blend of both. It can really take a lot of increased time and focus to collaborate effectively.
And in the same vein, the rise of digital collaboration tools means that collaboration can be an all day task rather than something that’s just confined to meetings or gatherings.
Jenn has been immersed in human resources and training for more than 25 years and she’s committed to helping leaders evolve and grow to support successful organizations.
She holds a master’s certificate in organizational development and change from the Schulich School of Business and professional designations in both human resources (CHRL) and training & development (CTDP). She also holds coaching certifications from Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead, Team Coaching International, EQ in Action, Everything DiSC Workplace, Crucial Conversations, and Five Behaviours of Team Development.
Jenn’s career started in HR at the University of Wilfred Laurier in Waterloo, Ontario, then she moved to PriceWaterhouseCooper where she learned, tested, implemented, planned and oversaw hundreds of tools, trainings, courses, assessments, and management interventions. She has empowered more than 5,000 individuals and led more than 475 trainings.
Jenn is also the Subject Matter Expert for two of Dialectic’s new Learning Snippets programs: Leadership 101 and Collaboration 101. These are scenario-based microlearning programs that are designed to equip leaders and team members with proven tools and strategies.
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