Mistick Barbara - Stretch: how to future-proof yourself for tomorrows workplace

In today's fast-moving, multigenerational workplace, we all want more from our professional experiences. Stretch provides solid advice on how you can feel valued and in control of your career success. This book is one that will bolster your spirits and might just change your life.

Lindsey Pollak, New York Times Bestselling Author of Becoming
the Boss: New Rules for the Next Generation of Leaders

Our neuroscience research has shown that experiencing hope and dreaming of your desired future helps a person to create a path to that future and ameliorate the ravages of stress and uncertainty. Willyerd and Mistick have converted complicated research and emerging trends into a delightful journey through their stories and guidance. Reading will do more than help you prepare for the future: it will help you make your dreams your reality!

Richard Boyatzis, Distinguished University Professor, Case Western
Reserve University and Co-Author with Dan Goleman and Annie McKee
of the International Bestseller, Primal Leadership

Willyerd and Mistick have the courage to expose a raw nerve that many of today's employees feel. They don't shy away from the reality of the vulnerability many feel about not only keeping up with today, but also preparing for an ever-changing tomorrow. Stretch brings hope and inspiration to both individuals and organizations with specific tools, examples, and practical ideas to move forward.

Joe Campbell, Talent Management Director, Nike, Inc.

The future of work promises to be dramatically different over the next decade. Disruptive technologies, big data, demographic shifts, and demand for new skills will require new ways of thinking about careers and preparing a workforce for tomorrow. Stretch tackles these issues head on with practical advice for those in the workplace and for organizations that want to prepare their workforces for the future. Those who prepare will seize huge opportunities and, with the workplace changes underway, everyone who wants to participate in tomorrow's economy should read Stretch today.

Eva Sage-Gavin, Vice Chair of the Aspen Institute's Skills
for America's Future Advisory Board

Obsolescence. It's the single biggest concern of today's workforce. STRETCH by Willyerd and Mistick is the answer. Study the megatrends shaping how we work. Analyze their comprehensive data around why we work. Then put their original and accessible solutions into practice. Want to remain relevant? stretch, Stretch, and STRETCH again.

Whitney Johnson, Thinkers50 Most Influential Management
Thinkers, author of critically-acclaimed Disrupt Yourself:
Putting the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Work

Research meets practice most eloquently in Stretch. The thought-provoking ideas about how to prepare for a rapidly changing workplace will give you the edge in future-proofing yourself.

John Boudreau, Professor and Research Director,
University of Southern California, Author of Lead the Work:
Navigating a World Beyond Employment

Smart organizations are preparing now for the talent they will need for tomorrow. Stretch takes on the critical and complicated subject of why leaders need to be career makers. The excellent case studies and strong research make this book required reading.

Laura Stein Fortune 500 executive and board member

Good enough is never good enough when the bar is raised or the rules change... and both will happen. Stretch speaks to this in a powerful way. Willyerd and Mistick make the case for continual development in a world that will be unforgiving to those who ignore this challenge, and then help readers understand what it takes to engage in self-development in a meaningful way. It is the book you need to read if you want practical steps to build a meaningful, purpose-filled career for the future. This is not just a great readit is an important read.

Larry Peters, Professor of Management and Leadership Development,
Neeley School of Business, TCU, and Author of The Simple Truths
About Leadership: Turning Your People Into Your Partners

Willyerd and Mistick do a great job of explaining how the work landscape is changing and what we need to do about it. If you have a job or want a job, then you need to read this book!

Jacob Morgan, Bestselling Author of The Future
of Work, Speaker and Futurist

Cover design: Wiley

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Copyright 2016 by Karie Willyerd and Barbara Mistick. All rights reserved

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 646-8600, or on the web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748-6011, fax (201) 748-6008, or online at www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with the respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for damages arising herefrom.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Names: Willyerd, Karie. | Mistick, Barbara
Title: Stretch : how to future-proof yourself for tomorrow's workplace /
Karie Willyerd, Barbara Mistick.
Description: 1 | Hoboken : Wiley, 2015. | Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015027971 (print) | LCCN 2015039560 (ebook) |
ISBN 9781119087250 (hardback) | ISBN 9781119087151 (epdf) |
ISBN 9781119087113 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Career development. | Organizational change. | Vocational
guidance. | BISAC: BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Careers / General. | BUSINESS
& ECONOMICS / Workplace Culture.
Classification: LCC HF5381 .W695 2015 (print) | LCC HF5381 (ebook) | DDC
650.1dc23
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015027971

To the girls we love,
our daughters,
Charis and Rena
Sloane, Tori, and Adriana

My life's work has been about helping people use social science to solve the most important problems of their lives-like breaking stubborn habits or holding high-stakes conversations with stubborn colleagues. Over the years I've been blessed to work with not only some of the finest scholars in the world, but some of the finest human beings as well. Which brings me to the pages that follow.

Stretch is a story-filled delightful read. It is timely and important. It pulls together what we know about staying relevant today and appropriately anticipating tomorrow. It is no ordinary book. The well-informed practices presented in