'Retaining Talent through Continuous Learning' with Edwin Trevor-Roberts PhD

Bespoke Careers Sydney kicked-off the 2020 series of Bespoke Talks with an interactive and insightful presentation by Edwin Trevor-Roberts PhD. Edwin’s working life has been devoted to understanding the critical intersection between individuals and their work. This deep immersion in research and practice has centred on how the world of work is evolving in response to changes in society, technology and organisations. Expanding on his theory discussed at TEDxUQ about “Reframing Work" Edwin dived into the meaning of career success with specific application to the recruitment and HR specialities.

During this lunchtime session, HR specialists, practice managers, directors and CEOs of architecture and design firms in Sydney participated actively with quick exercises, discussion in pairs and Q&A.

Edwin stated that in this hyper-changing environment, it seems somewhat pointless to base our career decisions on the pursuit of achieving ‘a job’ or even one profession. "What will happen to our work, and our careers, when these jobs and professions no longer exist?” he asks.

To build a career of substance we need to answer for ourselves some foundational questions. During the presentation, Edwin prompted the audience to reflect on some of these:

• How do I find meaningful work? We all seek to have a sense of purpose in life and work plays in important part in contributing to that sense of purpose.
• What is my contribution?  What I am best suited to do and how does my unique set of talents and skills combine into specific jobs or activities?
• Where is my place in this world? We live in a boundaryless world where time and space have collapsed through technology and affordable travel, allowing us now, more than ever, to choose the environment in which we live and work.
• How do I adapt to constant change? As the world of work continues to evolve and change, so do we. Being able to rapidly acquire new knowledge and build mental agility and resilience are the building blocks of adaptability.
• Who are my people? "Engage your allies and be a good ally" says the Canadian Blueprint for Career Development, eloquently summarising the importance of being part of groups where you feel a sense of belonging and from where you can learn and grow.

“Navigating the world of work over the next decade requires us to think differently about our relationship to work. Start by asking different questions which will result in new conversations and unexpected revelations. We can't passively wait for career success to come to,” concludes Edwin.

Sources:

Building a career of substance: the search for meaningful work

Additional Resources:

Design thinking for an extraordinary career

The organisational career is not dead

Increase employee productivity growth