Working Forward, an original podcast from PeopleForward Network, explores advancements in technology, societal + economic shifts, artificial intelligence, remote work, the gig economy, and more to equip listeners with the knowledge and foresight necessary to thrive in an ever-evolving professional landscape.
In this episode of Working Forward, Jason Cochran sits down with Matt Poepsel, SVP of Workforce and Talent at The Predictive Index and author of multiple books on talent optimization, to explore what happens when AI disruption, generational shifts, and organizational entropy collide. Matt introduces the concept of entropy in the workplace, the natural tendency of systems to descend toward disorder, and explains why fear-driven leadership only accelerates the breakdown. They dig into why 75 percent of Gen Z workers are interested in entrepreneurship, how AI is simultaneously creating opportunity and eroding foundational skills, and why the employer-employee relationship needs a return to mutuality. Matt makes the case that partnership, not power, is the only sustainable path forward, and that leaders who practice active listening, make concessions, and invest in adaptive skills will be the ones who hold their organizations together through the turbulence ahead.
Additional Resources:
Connect with Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattpoepsel/
Watch the Working Forward Podcast on YouTube!
Connect with Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-d-cochran/
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/
Learn more about PeopleForward Network: https://peopleforwardnetwork.com/
Key Takeaways:
- Entropy is the silent force pulling organizations apart; without intentional leadership, trust and commitment naturally erode over time.
- 75 percent of Gen Z workers are interested in entrepreneurship, largely because AI has made it easier than ever to start something on your own.
- The pendulum of power between employers and employees swings in cycles; leaders who squeeze talent during downturns will pay for it when the market opens back up.
- AI is not just displacing tasks but eroding the foundational adaptive skills that those tasks used to quietly build, and leaders need to protect that development.
- Mutuality, the practice of genuine partnership between employers and employees, is the antidote to the fear and self-interest that drive organizational breakdown.
- The pace of technological change is only accelerating; leaders who bet against AI’s capabilities in their industry are making a short-sighted gamble.
by PeopleForward Network
Working Forward
A notable trend has emerged—a growing demand for discussions centered around strategic planning to navigate the future of work. Data suggests that individuals are seeking content focused on anticipated trends to shape the employment landscape in the years ahead.
Working Forward, an original podcast from PeopleForward Network, explores advancements in technology, societal + economic shifts, artificial intelligence, remote work, the gig economy, and more to equip listeners with the knowledge and foresight necessary to thrive in an ever-evolving professional landscape. Hosted by thought leaders from around the globe who work in their leadership expertise area, studying and keeping their eye on changes to provide advice on how to prepare and what to do next.