Numerous obituaries have been published in recent days commemorating the work of Professor Charles Handy, writer and philosopher, who passed away shortly before Christmas.
For me, Handy’s work has been hugely influential, and as we enter the AI age I believe it is more relevant than ever.
Here are my 10 timeless lessons from Charles Handy:
1. The Portfolio Career: AI is reshaping industries, making reliance on one income source risky. Handy predicted this, warning: “Don’t get a job, find a customer.”
2. The Sigmoid Curve: Handy showed that reinvention was an essential part of life. And the best time to reinvent was just before success hits its inevitable plateaue. That’s why his model of the ‘Sigmoid Curve’ remains so powerful. Whether it’s changing jobs, selling shares, or even discussing the next stage of a successful marriage!
3. The Empty Raincoat: AI may boost efficiency, but true job satisfaction comes from purpose-driven roles aligned with human values.
4. The Shamrock Organisation: Integrating full-timers, freelancers, and gig workers is becoming a critical business imperative – as demonstrated in his model of the Shamrock Organisation.
5. The Age of Unreason: With AI driving change, questioning outdated thinking is key. Handy argued many organisations still cling to 20th-century structures which stifle innovation.
6. Work as a Calling: As AI handles repetitive tasks, human strengths like creativity, empathy, and purpose are more critical than ever – a key theme in Handy’s writing.
7. Discontinuous Change: Handy likened ideal organisations to villages—small, personal, and united for the greater good.
8. Leadership by Trust: In an AI-driven world, emotional intelligence will matter more than ever for fostering collaboration and trust.
9. Small is Beautiful: Handy valued human-scale organisations and purpose-driven contributions, which he called their “soul.”
10. Future of Work: Lifelong learning is essential for adapting to evolving industries and skills.
Charles Handy’s vision reminds us that amid technological transformation, it’s humanity and our ability to adapt that will define the future of work.
As he wrote:
“The future is not inevitable. We can influence it, if we know what we want it to be.”
