When work and life co-exist under the same roof, you lose touch with time. You bustle all day to meet your commitments but you can't tell what day it is. Despite the freedom and accessibility, you're often stuck without progress. It’s the same story with our businesses too.
Despite our ability to learn and adapt, all we did so far was survive. But in this quarter, organizations are hoping to revive their businesses and thrive in this new normal.
We know that the virus is still on the loose, but if your people are on your side, you can always reclaim your glory. But to get people on board, our HR and L&D practices need a fundamental reboot.
Luckily, Cornerstone provided an opportunity to review and reinvent your HR and L&D practices. In Convergence Unbound 2020, it laid down numerous innovative solutions and bold perceptions to help organizations achieve their goals.
Here are a few key insights our team has captured for you.
Emerging Skills for the New Normal
We've endured so much in the last six months. We risked our lives to save our livelihoods. That struggle gave us more skills than we could imagine. In a session moderated by Summer Salomonsen, Head of Cornerstone Studios, Liggy Webb and Mark Lamswood named resilience, curiosity, adaptability, creativity and flexibility as the top emerging skills.
Summer also emphasized that these skills will have a prominent role in the next normal and our front-line mangers are uniquely situated to nurture them. When asked to share a tip on how to sustain and curiosity amongst people even after the pandemic, Liggy replied;
Helping people to not be afraid to ask questions is my number one tip. There is no stupid question, that won't open up our potential.
— Liggy Webb, Founding Director,The Learning Architect
An Uncomfortable conversation for a Comfortable Workplace
Just when we were reopening our workplaces, George Floyd's brutal murder came as a shock and devastated us. Soon, the discussion on racism and social injustice erupted sending its tremors down our workplaces. Just like the pandemic, we were not ready for it.
In his session, The Uncomfortable Conversations with the Blackman, Emmanuel Acho, showcased the struggles of black people both inside and outside workplaces. He answered the questions that you weren't able to ask out of fear. Key takeaways from his session include;
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Organizations must educate their people on micro aggression and other forms of racism they unwillingly perpetuate.
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When your black brothers and sisters are grieving in pain, and you don't know how to console them,
Tell them 'I don't know what to say and ask "How do I share your grief?" It shows that you care and that's a start.
— Emmanuel Acho, Fox Sports Analyst
The Capability Academy
Global L&D analyst Josh Bersin, graced Cornerstone Convergence with his research on learning technology market and its trends during the pandemic. His session was an eye-opener, as he broke down many presumptive notions. Interesting points to be noted from his session were —
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During the pandemic, even with the restrictions, we've all become a service economy. We assumed that digital automation is going to take over soon. But that's not what happened. Research suggests that human part of the organizations is still the organization.
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Josh introduces the concept and working models of Capability Academy. According to him, we are not training people to attain skills, we are training them to attain capabilities. He also laid out almost 90 capabilities you need for a HR function.
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Lack of trust is now a crisis. Josh reminds us that it's our job to cultivate trust within an organization.
Own Your Story
Academy Award winning Actor, Producer and human rights activist for women and women of color, Viola Davis made a guest appearance at Cornerstone Convergence 2020. In an intimate conversation with Jeff Miller, she detailed on how owning your story can give you strength during tough times.
From extreme poverty to making it big in Hollywood, her journey is an inspiration to all. She said that she owes her success to the suffering she had endured. And believes that positive change happens in an organization when individuals accept their true selves.
Change is not possible without out struggle and we must derive strength from our scars too.
— Viola Davis, American Actress and Human Rights Activist
Summing It Up in One Word- Unbound
Over all, the event delivered on its promises. With many more interesting keynotes, product sessions, and client testimonies, it cleared the air on work in the new normal.
By reliving HR from the shackles of old-fashioned thinking Cornerstone Convergence empowered us with courage and creativity.
So, we can truly be — Unbound.
If that got you intrigued, catch all 40 sessions from Cornerstone Convergence 2020, on demand right now.