Why prioritizing human experience in the workplace is key to shared future success

The World Economic Forum's agenda for its annual meeting in Davos this month is 'Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World'. January is a time for fresh thinking and I've been giving some thought to the words 'shared future' as the resounding note of optimism in that theme. In particular, I have been reflecting on how that applies to the changing concept of work.

We see evidence all around us of advances in technology and big data transforming our work and lifestyles. What's becoming equally apparent in the workplace, as a complementary counterpart to digitalization, is a strong recognition of the importance of human experience. The phrase has developed a buzz, but I think it's worth breaking down. What do we mean by human experience in the workplace, and why is it so important?

Work is not separate from life and it never has been. What has changed is our perspective, our understanding of what's possible. The digital age has encouraged us to take a long hard look at ourselves. We've learned a little more about what makes us human and what makes us happy.

It's not just in the workplace that this revolution is taking place. People are increasingly valuing experiences over products. The idea of consumer satisfaction is now not so much about what you have but what you do. Interactions with other people are a crucial part of these experiences. That's where WEF's 'shared future' theme resonates and it is where the whole work question comes full circle.

Across all business sectors, we see growing recognition of the vital importance of community in the workplace. We don't need a scientific study to know that being part of a community is energizing. But why? The key, I think, is shared meaning and values, which in turn instill a shared sense of purpose.

I think it is fair to say that few people have ever enjoyed the monotony of the stereotypical workplace. Humans thrive on variety and flexibility. We are wired to respond to diverse and dynamic environments. In the new workplace, this translates to physical space, yes, but also hierarchies, teams, collaboration and even job descriptions. It is also about providing inspiration, a fulfilling experience and even a sense of belonging.

At the same time, perceived lack of control is known to be one of the main triggers of stress. Which leads me to wonder, how many people have been unnecessarily stressed at work because they felt constrained? And how can we, as leaders, let go of traditional leadership models and allow people the freedom to flourish?

Work is such a central part of life. When it comes to human experience, it seems obvious that to be at their most productive and fulfilled, people need to be in a good place, mentally, emotionally and physically. What's more, those three aspects of wellbeing are interconnected. The workplace can be the focal point of a real opportunity to create positive feedback loops that help people achieve their ambitions. To me, that's truly exciting.

In that positive spirit, I'm looking forward to JLL's own contribution to the Davos agenda next week. I'll be moderating a panel discussion which will look at why human experience in the workplaces of the future will be even more central to the success of high performance businesses, despite the rise of the robots! I'll also be blogging from Davos again this year and will let you know how that discussion develops.