Across Borders: How U.S. Trends Influence Global Work Culture

From social media trends to global soft skill shifts

From fashion to food to fintech, the U.S. is known for its position at the forefront of what’s now and what’s next. Trends starting in the States often cross geographical boundaries to trend across the globe, and what’s hot in the workplace is no exception. As the world’s leading economic powerhouse, it’s no surprise that the U.S. is looked to as a source of guidance on what works at work. So, what’s the U.S. been up to in the office? Let’s dive in.

Trending on Social Media 

Work may not be a new topic of discussion, but it’s gained momentum in social media spaces. Over the past few years, social media creators have been more vocal about work culture, leading some influencers to base their whole brand on commenting on and criticizing workplace environments. Many of these content creators are American citizens working for American companies who are identifying these American trends.

Take “quiet quitting,” for example. First coined in a TikTok in early 2022 by a Nashville, TN-based career coach, the idea of doing the bare minimum at your job soared in popularity. TikTok exploded with videos about quiet quitting, and publications from Forbes to The New Yorker covered the phenomenon. A recent Insider article ranked quiet quitting as the number one workplace trend in 2023 based on TikTok video views.

Though many HR leaders were left clutching their pearls over the potential fallout from these quiet quitters, the most visionary organizations saw this trend as an opportunity to better support their workers. Through proven methods in learning and development initiatives or connecting employees of all levels with virtual coaches to help develop the skills needed to excel at work, organizations implemented programs to help increase employees’ engagement and satisfaction. In fact, according to CoachHub research, almost half of surveyed global organizations planned to upskill or reskill their workers in 2023.

Another recent HR-related trending TikTok topic in the U.S.? Quiet hiring. Emily Rose McRae, a Gartner analyst, and HR expert, coined the term “quiet hiring,” defining it as an approach where instead of hiring new workers to fill skill gaps, employers increase or change the responsibilities of current employees to meet organizational goals. It’s essentially the opposite of quiet quitting. 

As many organizations freeze or slow down hiring in the face of a potential economic downturn, leaders are maximizing the workers they do have. McRae suggests the subjects of quiet hiring discuss what their role changes mean for their futures with their organizations and their careers.

Leading the Skill Shift at Work

Beyond the TikTok trends, Americans have zeroed in on the soft skills workers want to develop — and that companies fear their employees lack. Soft skills, sometimes called behavioral skills, are just as valuable in the workplace as hard technical skills. Someone could be the best in the industry with their technical skills, but without soft skills like problem-solving or emotional regulation, they likely won’t have success as an effective leader. Soft skills are crucial to success at work and can be developed through one-on-one coaching, and almost 90% of organizations plan to increase their coaching investments throughout 2023.

According to recent aggregate CoachHub insights, Americans identified conflict management as their number one most sought-after soft skill. Time management, communication, resilience, and emotional regulation rounded out the top five, which barely eked out growth mentality, a skill ranked four places lower in 2021. 

Globally, respondents picked these same five soft skills as their top choices, though the rankings were slightly different. Conflict management reigned at number one, followed by emotional regulation, time management, resilience, and communication. Despite the geographical differences among respondents, the skills Americans chose as most important at work also resonated with the rest of the world. The key takeaway? Leaders must take note and empower their workforces with the resources they need to perfect their soft skills.

Trends come and go, but it’s evident that trends originating in the U.S. can have a significant impact globally and captivate workplaces worldwide, influencing practices and helping to shape the future of work.

Author Bio

Laurel McKenzie is the lead Senior Behavioral Scientist in North America at CoachHub, a digital platform for professional coaching. She has 8+ years of specialized experience in cognitive performance, coaching, and applications of psychological principles that enhance employee performance and leadership development.