The Flying Trapeze: Exploring the Benefits and Challenges of Boundaryless Careers

By Shelley Luzaich | July 30, 2024

Boundaryless careers offer significant advantages by allowing professionals to explore their interests, passions, and talents across various settings and contexts. This flexibility enhances learning, creativity, and satisfaction while fostering adaptability and resilience in a dynamic environment. Exposure to diverse perspectives, cultures, and networks enriches personal and professional growth, and opens new opportunities. 

This type of career model is often described as “agile,” emphasizing the importance of remaining curious, connected, and proactive. Executives should continuously ask themselves what excites them and how they can connect with those doing exciting work. This may be likened to a trapeze artist ready to grab the next swing, highlighting the proactive nature of boundaryless careers. 

Additionally, boundaryless careers provide autonomy, flexibility, and time for passion projects. As an example, many individuals now negotiate part-time work and/or remote or hybrid arrangements to manage personal and professional life. This model allows them to create their own experience.  

However, boundaryless careers also present drawbacks such as instability, competition, uncertainty, and the need for strong self-management skills. Professionals may face stress and anxiety from constant change and lack of support from traditional structures. Additionally, the need for continuous self-promotion and portfolio updates can be challenging. 

The Future is Promising 

The future of boundaryless careers is promising, driven by trends such as remote work, digital skills, AI, and new social and environmental challenges. Organizations must prioritize human performance, focusing on empathy, curiosity, and human sustainability to thrive in this evolving landscape. Deloitte’s “2024 Global Human Capital Trends” report highlights the importance of balancing human and business outcomes to drive success in a boundaryless world. 

The following action items contain insights for both workers and companies:  

Actionable Steps for Workers 

  • Stay Curious and Connected: Continuously explore your interests and passions. Connect with professionals who inspire you and seek opportunities to learn and grow. 
  • Negotiate Flexibility: Advocate for work arrangements that suit your personal needs, such as remote work or part-time schedules. This can help maintain a work-life balance and manage stress. 
  • Build a Strong Network: Develop and maintain a diverse network of contacts and mentors who can provide valuable advice, support, and opportunities for career growth. 
  • Update Skills Regularly: Invest in ongoing learning and development. Acquire new skills, knowledge, and credentials to stay relevant and competitive in a dynamic job market. Particularly important now are skills that have anything to do with Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

Actionable Steps for Companies 

  • Prioritize Human Performance: Focus on human sustainability by creating value for employees, fostering their well-being, and providing opportunities for growth and development. 
  • Encourage Transparency and Trust: Use data and technology responsibly to build trust within the workforce. Balance transparency with privacy to foster a positive work environment. 
  • Cultivate Microcultures: Recognize and support the diverse microcultures within the organization. Provide resources and autonomy to different work groups while aligning them with the company’s overarching principles. 
  • Adopt a Boundaryless HR Approach: Transform HR into a boundaryless discipline integrated with the business. Co-create solutions with employees and the community to address complex problems and drive innovation. 

What Lies Ahead? 

By embracing these strategies, both workers and companies can navigate the complexities of boundaryless careers and thrive in the evolving world of work.  

Posted in Clients, Working Knowledge