FlexOS | Future Work

CIO vs CHRO: Who Leads AI Upskilling? + Why Culture is Critical for AI Success

November 20, 2024
Issue
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108
CIO vs CHRO: Who Leads AI Upskilling? + Why Culture is Critical for AI Success

How do we evolve HR into a function that sits close to the business and spearheads important initiatives (including AI and hybrid work – my two favorite topics) rather than seeing other teams lead the charge?

In this week's Future Work, we explore this and other questions.

Plus: I'm excited to introduce you to a new host for our podcast, who will guide ten conversations about the role of HR in the future of work.

Let's dive in.

Your Weekly Must-Read Insights about the Role of HR in the Future of Work

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FEATURED PODCAST

Next week, we’re launching the fourth season of Future Work.

And like the past three seasons, where I’ve interviewed guests like Josh Bersin, Annie Dean, Dave Ulrich, and Ashley Herd, we have an amazing line-up of guests to discuss the role of HR in the future of work.

But one thing will be different: I won’t be asking the questions.

As FlexOS develops further, and the future of work gets more complex, I wanted to hand over the microphone to someone who understands this topic more deeply.

I found that person in Tim Reitsma.

Tim has been an editorial advisor with FlexOS for over a year and is the perfect person to spearhead season 4 of the podcast. Tim is an HR leader and a believer that a happier future of work is not only necessary but also possible.

He also runs an organization called Invisible Condition that focuses on normalizing conversations around non-apparent illnesses and disabilities, reducing stigma, and enhancing understanding.

To introduce Tim further to you, I thought I’d interview him. In this episode, you’ll hear from Tim about:

  • The evolving role of HR from tactical execution to strategic leadership.
  • The need for HR to align more closely with business objectives.
  • The future of workspaces and HR’s responsibility in managing hybrid, remote, and office environments.
  • The integration of AI into HR processes and how AI can enhance HR’s strategic role.
  • The increasing importance of disability inclusion and creating spaces where employees can perform at their best.
  • Setting healthy boundaries and prioritizing tasks within HR roles to avoid burnout, and leveraging curiosity as a tool for HR to navigate the uncertain future of work.

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Welcome to this week’s How Hybrid Works, your go-to section for the latest updates in hybrid work, sponsored by Tactic.

Stay ahead of the trends with expert insights, case studies, and industry news designed to help HR, workplace, and people leaders thrive in the evolving work environment.

Supercharge Your Hybrid and Remote Teams

Keeping hybrid and remote teams engaged is different from those in an office. When impromptu discussions before and after meetings, in-person collaboration, and other serendipitous run-ins don’t exist (as much), intentional steps are needed. We asked Engagement Academy founder Christie Hoffman about the secrets to engaging hybrid and remote teams.

​​What Side Are You On? The Hybrid Work Debate Heats Up!

Bosses want everyone back in the office, but research says hybrid work boosts productivity and satisfaction. Employees love the flexibility, and it’s improving well-being and retention. The challenge is balancing leaders’ concerns over teamwork and culture with what workers actually want. The New York Times explores.

How We're Letting Hybrid Workers Down

Hybrid work is great, but it’s not all smooth sailing—remote employees can miss out on career growth compared to their in-office peers, leading to dips in morale and retention. Miro research highlights the opportunity: ensure equal opportunities for all, no matter where they work.

Quick hits:

THE FUTURE OF HR ROUNDUP

Besides our weekly big story, where I dive deep into something that your leadership will have looked at, I read a lot more.

I follow and summarize the news that future-forward and people-centric leaders care about, so you don't have to.

This week:

Gartner Survey: Leadership Development Tops HR's 2025 Priorities for the Third Year

A Gartner survey found that HR leaders’ top priority in 2024 is developing better leaders and managers. With hybrid work, economic changes, and shifting employee needs, upskilling leadership is key to keeping teams engaged. Other hot topics include Organizational Culture, Workforce Planning, Change Management, and HR Tech—all crucial to staying ahead in the evolving HR game.

Read this article​ →

It's time for AI to move from Automation to Empowerment

Future Work-alumnus AJ Thomas says AI isn't just for automating—it’s about supercharging employees for bigger, better tasks. By boosting human strengths, AI sparks innovation, ramps up productivity, and helps teams make smarter decisions. In Forbes, she shares how companies can blend tech with human creativity to get the best of both worlds.

CHROs on the Rise: HR's Fast Climb to the C-Suite

The CHRO role is skyrocketing as companies focus on talent management, diversity, and employee well-being. As HR takes center stage in shaping business strategy, CHROs play a key role in building a positive workplace culture and aligning with evolving business needs.

Stay Ahead with AI: Reskilling Workforce to Stay Competitive

CIOs are upskilling teams to handle AI and automation, focusing on training in AI, machine learning, and data science. This helps close skill gaps, future-proof the workforce, and keeps companies competitive without relying on outside hires. The question this poses is of course, why isn't HR driving this agenda?

Why Culture Could Be the Game-Changer in AI Landscape

According to SHRM, AI success hinges on your culture. Building trust, transparency, and collaboration helps employees embrace AI and make it work effectively. This article dives into how you orient you culture for AI success.

What Employers Get Wrong About How People Connect at Work

In HBR, Akamai VP Khalil Smith posits that workplace connections go beyond casual chats—they involve colleagues, leaders, employers, and roles (CLEAR). Focusing on just one, like in-office interactions, overlooks critical elements. A balanced approach across all four boosts engagement, trust, and performance is key, as are policies to drive them.

Read this article​ →

Your Weekly Must-Read Insights about the Role of HR in the Future of Work

The world of work is changing faster than the time we have to understand it.
Sign up for my weekly newsletter for an easy-to-digest breakdown of the biggest stories.

Join over 42,000 people-centric, future-forward senior leaders at companies like Apple, Amazon, Gallup, HBR, Atlassian, Microsoft, Google, and more.

Unsubscribe anytime. No spam guaranteed.