These days, employees work at the end of an electronic leash. Sadly, the simultaneous progression of technology and employee burnout is no coincidence.

Deloitte attributes the decline in employee-wellbeing which is occurring in technological environments, to increased connectivity and global working.

Businesses are able to provide 24/7 services. It’s wonderful for their customers, but means that employees are either

• accessible around the clock and as such, forever unable to switch off
• working relentlessly during office hours to compensate for their business’ elaborate offering.

It’s taken a significant toll on mental health, too. From their continual online dedication, employees have been branded as having an “electronic leash”. This is according to a French lawmaker, following the introduction of France’s “the right to disconnect law”. Being fully accessible and connected outside of work hours has seen employees suffer as a result of their willingness.

Decline in Soft Skills

Modern employees are dedicating so much of their time to the technological revolution, they’re sacrificing their soft skills in return. New research from YouGov sadly found “a quarter of millennials say that they have no acquaintances.”

Yet, soft skills are destined to become the most employable traits in business. According to a 2017 report, undertaken by Deloitte Access Economics, possessing soft skills will be integral for “two thirds of all jobs”.

By compromising soft skills to master hard skills, employees are damaging their prospects of landing a job that will preference social skills in the near future. More worrying, those technological jobs are likely to be carried out by bots and advanced technology when the time comes.

A Proactive Firm Depends on an Introverted Leader

Scholars Thomas Bateman and Michael Crant in their research on proactivity (1993) discovered that “misguided proactive behaviour can lead to undesirable outcomes.”

Over two decades later and this statement couldn’t be more true. In modern business, extrovert directors are feared unfit for the proactive workforce of today.

As surprising as it sounds, introverted leaders are everyone’s flavour of the week. Tipped as most likely to navigate modern firms successfully through the digital times, introverts are more inclined to listen, value and observe the opinions and insights put forth by self-governing dynamic individuals.

Unlike extroverted leaders who are liked for their outgoing personas and confidence, introverts are less likely to be advocates only of themselves. Instead, there’s a greater chance they will push forward a proposal of a colleague’s for the sake of the business, even though it hasn’t come from them.

Employees now rely on value and appreciation more than ever as they incessantly work themselves into the ground. And if such appraisal doesn’t exist, then they’ve no hesitation in looking elsewhere.

Thus, introverted leaders must take charge of modern workforces to aid in their successes. Despite their often misunderstood reputations; ‘introverted leaders are unsociable, disengaged, incapable’ — they’ve the capacity to make a difference, improve employee wellbeing, and adapt to technological evolution better than anyone else.

What are your views on modern work environments? How do you think they’re changing alongside technology? Join in on the discussion; comment below with your thoughts.