Episode 153 - How Will The Workplace Look In 2026?

Over the past year, we’ve been making bold predictions about how technology, work and leadership would evolve for SMEs. In this episode, we return to those forecasts with a healthy dose of honesty, humour and hindsight. We score ourselves on what landed, what partially emerged, and what, thankfully or otherwise, failed to materialise. From AI-enhanced meetings and natural language automation to digital twins and wearable tech, we reflect on Episode 98 Predictions, and how these ideas have played out in the real world of small and medium-sized businesses.

Along the way, we explore a bigger question facing business leaders today: has technology genuinely simplified working life, or has it simply made us busier in new ways? We discuss productivity, anxiety about AI and jobs, hybrid working, regulation, and the growing need for intentional digital restraint. Rather than hype, we focus on what’s actually useful right now, and what business owners should be paying attention to as we look ahead to 2026.

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Key Topics Discussed:

• Reviewing last year’s technology and workplace predictions
• AI-enhanced communication and meeting summaries
• Natural language automation and “vibe coding”
• Autonomous data analysis and AI storytelling in CRM systems
• Digital twins, avatars and authenticity
• Instant language translation and its current limits
• Wearables, augmented reality and the future of interfaces
• Productivity, digital overload and intentional tech detox
• AI anxiety, job displacement and the changing nature of work
• What SMEs should realistically expect next from AI and platforms

Who Is This Episode For:

This episode is for UK business owners, directors, senior managers and team leaders, particularly those running small and medium-sized businesses. It’s especially relevant for people in sales, marketing, operations and leadership roles who want a clear, practical view of how AI and emerging technology are actually showing up in day-to-day business. If you’re focused on making better decisions, improving productivity and planning sensibly for what’s coming next, without overcomplicating things, this conversation is for you.

Quotes to Remember:

“Just because you can do it, doesn’t mean you should”.

“We’re becoming more productive, but we’re not taking Friday afternoons off ".

“The anxiety about work being replaced by AI may be arriving faster than the reality”.

Actionable Takeaways:

1. Use AI where it clearly saves time, such as meeting summaries, CRM insights and data interrogation, not everywhere by default.
2. Ask questions of your data in plain English instead of relying solely on dashboards and reports.
3. Be intentional about technology use, productivity gains disappear if boundaries don’t exist.
4. Prepare for AI regulation, especially if you work with EU clients or data.
5. Focus on human value in your business: judgement, relationships and creativity still matter.
6. Don’t chase every new tool, wait for evidence of real SME value before investing.
   

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