In a world of change (and smiling colleagues)

I’ve always enjoyed dispelling the myth that good news doesn’t make headlines. Maybe it comes with being a marketer. Sadly, there will never be a shortage of bad news. But there are plenty of reasons to be cheerful. Allow me to focus on one in particular.

Ricoh commissioned research shows that despite being in an era of significant change, Europe’s workforce is overwhelmingly optimistic about 2017. The fact is we’re a far happier bunch than some would have us believe!

It’s easy to think that the challenges brought about by digital disruption, STEM skills gaps, political and regulatory change could kill employees’ positivity. But no. The research we commissioned – which collected the thoughts of 2,000 employees – reveals that 91% expect these forces to change how they work. And a staggering 95% believe this period of change will benefit their business.

So what is this optimism based on? When asked about the factors they see as having the most positive influence on their business in 2017, the most cited answers given by employees were:

·        Increased automation   

·        Digital disruption

·        Competitors with the ability to move more quickly

And this is (more) great news for business leaders. It shows an appetite for innovation and appreciation for being nimble. It also proves that employees aren’t losing sleep over big, scary robots stealing their jobs.  

The task now is for business leaders to ensure workers have the tools and processes needed to realise this optimism. Otherwise, employees could feel like they’ve been living in a false utopia. Nobody wants that – especially as there’s so many reasons to smile.

Find out more about the research at www.ricoh-europe.com/thoughtleadership.