Portfolio Work

Last week I had the chance to meet up with Katie Ledger to discuss her growing examination of Portfolio Work (tagline – ‘How to get money, meaning and magic into your life’ ). I know Katie from her work with Microsoft UK and her activity in the UK blogosphere and so I had been following her increasing focus on Portfolio Work with its natural connection to Dynamic Work.

One of my hypotheses to Dynamic Work is that ‘within a generation, the majority of white-collar/professional/knowledge-workers will work for more than one company at the same time.’ This notion is the symmetric corollary to the premise that businesses will adopt increasingly flexible resourcing including shared jobs (a company hiring more than one person for the same job and the same time).

Businesses have been increasingly flexible in their contracting with ‘employees’ using greater outsourcing, contracting, consulting and flexible job structures. And, employees are starting to and will demand reciprocal flexibility in their work lives and careers.

The premise extends from the observation cited in the stirring ‘Did You Know – Shift Happpens’ presentation which noted, “The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that today’s learner will have 10 to 14 jobs…by the age of 38.” Clearly, the notion of lifelong employment is withering, replaced by a new dynamism in the workplace. Yes, full of transitions, risks and uncertainties, but also full of opportunities for a new generation.

One of the biggest hurdles to widespread adoption of flexible employment are the risks and skills involved with finding the range of jobs in the portfolio. But the Internet is provides a uniquely powerful resource for people finding people. For matching buyers with sellers. And this efficient digital marketplace will provide a critical foundation to this increased flexibility.

While widespread working with this level of flexibility may be a generation away, Katie’s blog provides a superb guide to what people can and are doing today.