Work and working in the future
The future can be examined from different perspectives in coaching, depending on the needs and wishes of the participants. One perspective may be the working life and its possible changes as well as the wishes and concerns associated with it.
This may be an interesting topic, for example, when young people have current ideas about finding employment or choosing a field of education. In this case, it is a good idea to think together about what kind of working life could develop in the future and what kind of role the participants find desirable.
Sometimes, young people may find reflecting on working life distressing. This may happen if, for example, the choice of one’s own field is severely difficult or employment in general seems too distant. In this case, it should be considered whether it is necessary to discuss the topic in connection with the coaching.
Young people determine the scope
In future coaching, participants can, for example, familiarise themselves with a specific professional field and its future prospects, or apply for training related to the field, if they have the enthusiasm to do so.
Tulevaisuusvalmennuksessa voi hyvinkin yksityiskohtaisesti perehtyä esimerkiksi tiettyyn ammattialaan ja sen tulevaisuuden näkymiin tai vaikkapa alaan liittyviin koulutushakuihin, jos nuorilla riittää tähän intoa.
On the other hand, working life can be discussed at a very general level:
How can working life (and society in general) change, for example, as a result of technological development? What kind of changes would be desirable and what would be undesirable? How could megatrends, for example, be visible in future professions?
Reflection questions for the coach:
- For example, what could your own work be like in 10 years’ time? How could it be different from now? And in what way could it be the same?
- What kind of competences do you have? How could you use your competences in future changes?
- What kind of competence could be useful in your own work in the future? How could you acquire this competence?
Example of the duration of the exercise: 30 minutes–1.5 hours
Supplies: A list of future working life skills.
Goal: The purpose of this exercise is to familiarise participants with the future competence needs and to discuss what the future working life could look like, as well as what new professions may be created in the coming years.
Implementation
At the beginning of the exercise, the coach should emphasise to the participants that future changes in working life are not born out of nothing. Instead, new job descriptions may emerge as a result of changes brought about by megatrends, for example.
The coach can use virtually any publication that describes the anticipated future competence needs as background material for the exercise. Suitable current listings can be found, for example, with the online search “top 10 working life skills of the future”.
It is good to be aware that the additions that address future competence needs may seem demanding or difficult for the participants.
In future coaching, these lists are not intended to be presented as an absolute ideal or truth of any kind, but can be openly discussed, and opinions can be openly expressed about them.
Approaching the topic through discussion
In the exercise, it is important to have as free a discussion as possible, in which the participants can also highlight their own concerns and frustrations.
The discussion can be approached, for example, through the following questions:
What do the participants think about, for example, the constant increase in requirements and competence needs? What kinds of thoughts are prompted by rapid changes and the resulting idea of continuous learning?
Instructions to the participants:
- Read the list of future competence needs compiled from different sources.
- Reflect on the thoughts it evokes.
- Based on the list, does the future working life feel threatening or pleasant? Why?
- What kind of things would make future working life more pleasant than unpleasant? What could remain unchanged, and what could become different in the future?
- What kind of thoughts does the requirement for continuous learning evoke?
- Which of the skills on the list do you already have? Even small things should be mentioned!
Example of the duration of the exercise: 30 minutes–1.5 hours
Supplies: A list of future working life skills.
Goal: This exercise focuses on examining the competence that participants already possess and strengthening their perception of their own competence identity. No competence is irrelevant or too insignificant! The aim is that reflection strengthens the participants’ self-knowledge and helps them prepare for future plans, CVs, and job interviews. The exercise also helps them understand that competence accumulates from all stages of life and different environments.
Implementation
Before the exercise, the coach emphasises that a person’s competence identity is constantly evolving. The participants form an understanding of their own competence by considering what kind of competence they have accumulated so far and where they have learned knowledge and skills. It is also important to consider what kind of competence they would like to acquire in the future and where they can acquire it.
The resulting competence identity can be revisited later. It can also be supplemented and modified during the coaching.
Instructions to the participants:
- Take a blank sheet of paper and place yourself on it, for example, by drawing or writing your name.
- Add different areas of your life to the paper (e.g., work, studies, hobbies, courses, military or non-military service, voluntary work, etc.).
- For each area, consider what kind of things you have learned in connection with it. List items for each area. There is no quantitative target, nor is there any upper limit!
- Now, shift your focus to the future. What kind of competence would you like to learn or what existing skills would you like to develop further?
- In addition, think alone or with others about what kinds of situations or where new competence could be acquired? What kinds of actions could be required to acquire competence?
- Present your work to the coach or other participants.
The exercise is an application for a competence identity exercise developed in the Osata project. Learn more about the at osaamismatkalla.fi/materiaalit/sampo-osaaminen.
License
Theme
Kestävä hyvinvointi ja tulevaisuus, Nuorisotyö, Tulevaisuustyö, Yhteisöllinen hyvinvointi ja osallisuus
Citation instructions
Rantaniva, A. ja Eerikäinen, V. 2025. Future Coaching Guide. Xamk Educate 6. South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences. Available: https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:oerfi-202509000000780_2.
ISBN
978-952-344-624-3