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With 2025 fast approaching, workplace trends are continuing to adapt at an accelerated pace, which leads many to ponder what could be next.
Canva’s global head of people, Jennie Rogerson, has begun looking ahead into what’s next for Australian businesses in 2025, hypothesising a huge shift towards the importance of non-technical skills for building resilient AI-enhanced teams. Along with this AI prediction, Rogerson claims that social media-inspired communication could be a pivotal tool for hybrid teams.
“In 2025, as AI handles more routine and data-focused tasks, companies will put an even bigger focus on developing human ‘soft’ skills like creativity, strategic insight, and critical thinking – qualities that machines simply can’t replicate,” said Rogerson.
“Workplaces will emphasise EQ over IQ, and this will be reflected in everything, from recruitment to training programs, with organisations striving to develop well-rounded teams that are not only proficient in using this new technology but can [also] communicate clearly, collaborate effectively and lead with empathy.”
In terms of social media-styled communication, Rogerson believes that businesses operating through a hybrid working environment may lean into punchier bite-sized forms of communication, which are more likely to engage workers.
“In 2025, familiar and engaging social media-inspired visual formats will become an important tool when it comes to communicating across hybrid teams.
“People and internal comms teams will need to lean into the use of punchy and bite-sized formats such as short videos, GIFs, slideshows, and infographics to cascade information to distributed teams as workplaces prioritise engaging communications to generate cut through.
“Interactive tools will also be important when it comes to how teams collaborate in a hybrid environment, with the adoption of AI-infused polls, quizzes and interactive charts set to become commonplace as a way of fostering connection and engagement in forums such as town halls and team meetings,” said Rogerson.
In a previous HR Leader article, Jarrod McGrath, author and chief executive of Australian HR tech consultancy Smart WFM, similarly to Rogerson, agreed that AI implementation is going to be a game-changer in 2025.
“AI is bringing new hope for tech’s ability to solve our productivity woes. Unsure about how to use it but very clear that they should use it, many business, tech and people leaders are looking to deploy AI applications that will help them do more with less. But if we follow the same pattern we have with technology broadly, we’ll have the same issues.
“AI needs the right systems, data, processes, buy-in, training and – frankly – trust to succeed. Without these, it’ll just be another underutilised tool. This is already being demonstrated by new tech players entering the market in areas like compliance and what appear to be countless other niches popping up as a result of AI and the need to be more productive.
“AI can only learn from us at this stage – bad systems in, bad outcomes out,” said McGrath.
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In a hybrid work environment, individuals are allowed to work from a different location occasionally but are still required to come into the office at least once a week. With the phrase "hybrid workplace," which denotes an office that may accommodate interactions between in-person and remote workers, "hybrid work" can also refer to a physical location.
Kace O'Neill
Kace O'Neill is a Graduate Journalist for HR Leader. Kace studied Media Communications and Maori studies at the University of Otago, he has a passion for sports and storytelling.
