As many CEOs pivot to new business strategies, HR leaders feel unprepared to tackle looming workplace changes, according to recent findings shared by Gartner Inc. at the recent ReimagineHR Conference. The research highlighted three core challenges—collaboration, skills, and technology—calling them pivotal for organizations aiming to meet evolving business goals.
“Organizations are seeking to reset their strategies to reflect emerging conditions, but most feel unprepared to execute,” said Jessie Knight, Vice President of the Gartner HR practice. “Our research found three critical gaps that organizations must reconcile in order to successfully reset in pursuit of new strategic ambitions.”
Gartner’s data reveals that only 29% of surveyed employees report satisfaction with collaboration in their workplaces, a drop from 36% in 2021. The decline reflects a struggle with what Gartner calls “uncertain connection norms,” a trend exacerbated by pandemic-era shifts, broader social issues, and isolating technologies. Russ McCall, Director, Advisory in Gartner’s HR division, notes that this new environment has left workers feeling disconnected despite an increase in overall interactions. “Employees today have more connections but less valuable collaboration,” McCall said. To counter this, he suggests HR departments introduce “Guided Collaboration” initiatives to redefine how employees interact.
Skills gaps have emerged as another significant hurdle. Traditional development methods have proven insufficient, with Gartner’s May 2024 survey of 3,375 employees indicating that half feel unprepared to adapt to unexpected work changes. On-the-job learning, a key training resource, has also fallen short, leaving nearly 60% of workers without essential coaching for core job skills. Knight points to the pressure of evolving work models and rapid technology advancements as factors that have intensified this gap. To address these skills shortages, she advocates for a “Collective Intelligence” approach, fostering knowledge-sharing between those with critical skills and employees in need of skill development.
Technology, especially artificial intelligence, presents its own set of challenges, with employees often excluded from technology-related decisions. A Gartner survey conducted in August 2024 found that 41% of the time saved by AI is being misallocated due to poor alignment between tools and employee needs. “There is a lack of communication between employers and employees around the effects of technology in the workplace,” McCall said.
Less than 15% of HR leaders report that employees have a voice in tech decisions, according to Gartner data collected in July. To bridge this gap, Gartner recommends a “Human-First AI” approach, ensuring that technology enhancements prioritize employee engagement and productivity.
The Gartner ReimagineHR Conference, which ran Oct. 28-30 in Orlando, Fla., serves as a forum for CHROs and HR professionals to explore strategies for addressing these pressing workplace issues.