Efficient, flexible and diverse: career lessons from the gig economy

We’ve all heard about the gig economy advantages, especially flexibility and diversity. But have you considered that you can apply those benefits to any work you do?

The principles of the gig economy can make us more efficient and more productive. On top of that, the principles are also helping us future-proof our own careers.

People who are in steady employment might not think they are impacted by the gig economy. They might think that it applies to freelancers and delivery workers only. The truth is, you can adopt aspects of the gig economy into a senior position to thrive in your career.

Utilising the principles of gig economy in your career at a glance

Gig economy connects people who have a skill or an asset that is underutilised, with people who need that skill or asset, but do not need to own it. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy published a report in February 2018. It informs us that 2.8 million people in the UK participated in the gig economy in some way in 2017. 

Flexibility and efficiency are at the heart of the gig economy model. This kind of thinking is a huge opportunity to boost your existing career. Flexibility and efficiency are perfectly aligned with the strategic goals of organisations, whether in established or emerging sectors.

We have compiled three career lessons learned from the gig economy that you can use in your own career.

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Reimagining a frictionless, more fluid workplace

1. Avoid the silo effect by opening up to more perspectives

One of the strengths of the gig economy is that it is truly open to all. Anyone from teenagers who are great novice graphic designers, to retired executives with exceptional wisdom can participate in it.

This diversity is crucial. According to Hays' UK Diversity & Inclusion Report 2018, over half of respondents (58%) believe their leaders have a bias towards those who look, think and act like them. But in the gig economy, the ability to do the job beats everything else.

In your own career, model the diversity of the gig economy to capture more diversified views. Are you in regular contact with people who “look” nothing like you and listen to their views?

Young people will tell you about their use of social media, while more senior people will share their strategic insights into gaining hidden tacit knowledge. Find people who are the best at what they do outside of your network or geographical reach, and learn from them.

2. Bring in expertise to strengthen your skills and your team

The collaboration economy challenges all our assumptions. Barriers are disappearing fast, but mental habits are slow to catch up.

You can now sit in on a Harvard lecture by attending a MOOC (Massive Online Open Course) even if you don't enrol in an MBA. You can also practise Mandarin before your trip to Asia even if there isn’t a Mandarin teacher in your town. Instead, you can take lessons on iTalki.

To drive your career forward faster, look at bottlenecks and apply resourcefulness which is a crucial driver of the gig economy.

If you need a new logo while your web designer is too busy, you don’t have to pile the task on them. The ability to do graphic design and have a good eye are what counts. Consider whether that describes somebody else in your team, even if they're not officially a web designer. Or perhaps the web designer of another department can help you out on a one-off basis.

Identify the exact size and scope of skills gaps, both in yourself and in your team, or for a specific project. Ask yourself is it really a web designer you need, or a new logo? Is it an MBA you need, or a better knowledge of governance? Think in terms of stripping back and identifying the exact capability you need.

3. Identify and leverage idle resources

This is a key principle of the collaboration economy. Idle space in someone's house in the form of an unoccupied guest bedroom can become a source of income through Airbnb.

Think about where you have spare capacity in your career. Maybe you oversee young people who have management potential but aren't there yet. Can you put them in charge of brainstorming a new product, obtaining market research and building a paper prototype

Maybe you have a shelf of books that have been taking up space in your office for years. Can you donate them to charity? Or take a picture and share it on your company intranet to inspire others in the company to do the same?

What you need to remember about applying the principles of gig economy to your career

The gig economy is about uncovering new opportunities in your career and in day-to-day processes. It will help you think in terms of reallocating just the right amount of resources where they're actually needed.

For more career lessons and insights, take a look at our career advice page.