Amid the widespread discussion on automation & AI, value is still currently created through human capability, judgment, creativity & connection. Yet the tension between extracting value from people & creating value for people feels like it’s reaching an inflection point.
Economic uncertainty. Geopolitical instability. Cost pressures. Relentless demand for “faster, better, cheaper.” Add to that increasing short-termism (the average tenure of a FTSE 100 CEO is now just 2.7 years – only slightly longer than a Premier League Manager), & playing the long game has become harder than ever.
But it is precisely the long game that matters.
In their 2024 provocation on Human Sustainability (Source: The Case for Human Sustainability | Deloitte Insights) the authors argued that while organisations may no longer be able to offer employment for life – an increasingly unrealistic expectation – they do have a responsibility to make people “employable for life”.
That is a profound shift in framing.
It moves the question from:
How long can you stay with us?
to…
How much stronger will you be because you were here?
Human sustainability demands deliberate investment in:
- Health & wellbeing
- Inclusion & belonging
- Skills development & adaptability
- Progression & mobility
- Meaningful connection
Encouragingly in their study, 76% of leaders recognised their responsibility in this space. Less encouragingly, only 46% were taking action – & just 10% were doing it well.
That right there is Pfeffer & Sutton’s ‘Knowing-Doing Gap’.
In my world – where progression, skills & connection sit at the centre – I can already sense a softening of intent as budgets tighten. Yet the irony is clear: during periods of constraint, the case for investing in human sustainability becomes even stronger.
Those who invest wisely won’t just endure volatility – they will thrive in both the short & the long term.
If you’re re-thinking how Stronger Human outcomes can drive stronger organisational performance, I’d welcome the conversation.
Contact me at Rupert@strongerhumans.com
#strongerhumans
