What’s Next in Workforce? Is your system “ossified?”

Posted Oct 13, 2025 by Rick

I recently attended an HBR webinar titled How to Build a More Agile, Human-Centered Organization. Given Adaptive Human Capital’s mission of building resilient people and organizations, it’s no surprise that the topic caught my attention.

The presenters, authors of Humanocracy, argued that too many organizations today are old, bureaucratic, and—yes—“ossified.” Built for another era, they’re layered with too much management, too slow to adapt, too risk-averse to innovate. Employees often feel smothered, disconnected from ownership, and stripped of the ability to make a real impact.

Their alternative? Human-centered organizations with fewer layers of management, empowered teams, and employees treated like owners. Some companies are even giving workers equity stakes to deepen that sense of accountability and commitment.

Now think about our workforce development system. Too often, it shows the same “ossified” traits: risk-averse, siloed, and slowed by hierarchy. Decision-making can feel far removed from the customers we serve. That’s not the fault of system leaders—it’s largely a byproduct of the way Congress designed it. But it does leave leaders struggling to integrate multiple workforce and human service programs in ways that truly add value while maximizing limited staff capacity.

Here’s the good news: today’s technology makes innovation possible. With the right mindset, leaders can empower their teams to re-imagine services, streamline delivery, and put customers at the center. And in fact, many are already doing it—re-energizing service models, boosting productivity, and creating workplaces that inspire. What we need now is scale. And scale begins with the courage to admit change is necessary.

Later this month, I’ll be digging deeper into “what’s next” at the Garden State Employment and Training Association’s (GSETA) conference in Atlantic City. Despite the uncertainty of shifting federal policy and funding, our system faces a challenge—and an opportunity—to lead America’s workforce into the future.

This is a moment for audacious leadership. A year from now, we’ll wish we had started today. Let’s not wait. Let’s start now.