 |
|
|
|||||
When New York-based Autumn Myers, 31, was interviewing for her current digital marketing job, she pushed back the interview date so it didnt fall during Mercury retrograde. Those jobs have always ended up in more grief for me, she tells Fast Company. Myers also looks up her colleagues zodiac signs to guide her interactions with them. For example: People born under fire signs often thrive in leadership roles, but they can struggle with impulsiveness. Earth signs tend to be more dependable, but they can be risk-averse. Its very Scorpio of me to be that calculated, she admits. But its needed sometimes. Myers isnt alone. According to a 2024 Harris Poll of more than 2,000 U.S. adults, some 70% say they either somewhat or strongly believe in astrology, with 69% of millennials turning to it for comfort and confidence during challenging moments. Its also a massive global business. According to industry reports, the astrology industry will top $22 billion by 2031. Whether its Diors zodiac-themed line, astrology influencers posting videos to huge audiences on TikTok, or audio streamers like Spotify curating playlists based on your zodiac sign, the millennia-old belief system has continued to become more and more mainstream over the past few years, especially among millennials and Gen Zers. The Co-Star app, which uses AI to combine NASA data with the predictions of professional astrologers, has over 30 million global users. There are work-focused astrology tools, too, like Bizmos, a project management tool with the ability to forecast the optimal month, week, or day for completing certain tasks and achieving goals. And more than 6 million videos can be found under TikToks astrology hashtag. It’s kind of hard to ignore astrology when everyone’s talking about it, Myers says. In times of economic uncertainty, political turmoil, and a tumultuous job marketlayoffs hit record highs last yearits no surprise that people are seeking comfort and advice from farther afield. And since were talking about things that involve light-years . . . perhaps the farthest afield. Personalized goal-setting According to a 2025 survey of 2,000 Gen Zers by writing platform EduBirdie, 27% of Gen Z men and 16% of Gen Z women say they let the universe choose their career path. But folks have been consulting the heavens long before todays zoomers at work. The practice of astrology originated in ancient Mesopotamia in the second millennium B.C. A widely accepted subject taught at universities during the Middle Ages, astrology was closely intertwined with sciences like astronomy, medicine, and philosophy. That all stopped around the 1700s during the Scientific Revolution, and despite a resurgence during the New Age movement in the 1970s, many dismiss astrology as magical thinking or frivolous woo-woo. At its core, astrology holds that celestial events in the cosmos reflect what happens on Earth. Some believe that the actual transits of planets and positioning of stars directly influence our lives; others simply use astrology as an invitation to spot archetypal patterns in their lives, and then apply those lessons in productive ways. For example, in need of inspiration? See where Aquarius shows up in your birth chartthe sign most associated with innovation. Thats the area of life where you can naturally think outside the box, astrology holds. Brand strategist Giselle La Pompe-Moore, 36, checks what astrological season we’re in every month to guide her work and how she interacts with customers. During Sagittarius season (November 22 to December 21), shell focus on broader strategies and larger frameworks to do with her business, since Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, the planet tied to expansion and progress. Or shell consult her birth chart for hints about her personality and life themes. At the time of her birth, multiple planets were in Capricorns region of the sky; since Capricorns archetype is about structure and discipline, she takes this as a guide on the optimal way she should approach her long-term goals. I think business advice often sticks to the business as this entity. It kind of forgets that the business is run by a person, La Pompe-Moore says. Astrology really speaks to that. A way to work that feels “more natural” Many proponents will say that astrology is most useful as a spiritual framework, not a crystal ball that predicts the future. They say that astrology helps us to navigate emotional challenges and relationships, and to find greater balance in our lives. Jessica Maniatis, 44, consults the stars in her work as a coach to founders of small to scaling businesses. She creates reports that include clients birth charts, and also brings in other self-discovery tools, like the Enneagram, which attempts to outline peoples core fears and defense mechanisms. The first half of the report is a breakdown of their charts, and the second halfand this is a 100-plus-page reportis really how they all overlay, Maniatis explains. From there, she offers clients insights into the best ways to approach issues, from decision-making to self-regulation. What I’ve seen with my clients is that none of this information is necessarily newthey’re seeing themselves reflected back to them, she says. It almost gives them permission to approach life and work in a way that feels much more natural to them. For the corporate lawyer who posts anonymously on TikTok under the handle @astrologybro, astrology didnt tell him to go into law. But it can help you understand your individuality and your strengths and weaknesses, he says, which can give you a richer domain of reflection. He explains that astrologys use lies in prompting oneself to ask certain questionsin his case: What would I like to do, and how does being a lawyer contribute or not contribute to that? Rachel Ruth Tate, a full-time consulting astrologer, also finds astrology a neutral, shorthand language for patterns or behavior that may otherwise be trickier to identify and articulate on your own. For example, if youre a hotheaded, blunt communicator, an astrologer might invite you to see where Mars (the planet of drive and anger) shows up in your chart. From there, you can spend time introspecting how that fiery energy shows up in your behavior and lifein good ways and bad. Those who get it, get it: Me saying that you have a moon in Capricorn is easier than me telling you you’ll often work yourself into a corner because you’re a workaholic, Tate tells Fast Company. Utilizing a “flexible language” for decisions For nonbelievers, astrology is written off as a pseudoscience or sometimes an outright moneymaking scam. But instead of debating whether or not its real, its perhaps more useful to consider what its widespread appeal says about modern life, says Shiri Noy, associate professor of sociology at Denison University in Ohio. Noy was a coauthor on a study about astrologys contemporary uses, which was published last year in Social Currents, the official peer-reviewed journal of the Southern Sociological Society. Astrologys popularity reflects a broader moment of social, economic, and political uncertainty, Noy tells Fast Company. Nowadays, traditional sources of authorityreligion, institutions, expertisefeel less stable or less trusted, she says. Research has shown that people are more likely to be drawn to divinatory practices in times of uncertaintysomething theres no short order of in 2026. For many users, astrology isnt about believing the stars control their fate, Noy says. Instead, it operates as a flexible language for thinking about identity, relationships, timing, and choicessimilar to personality tests or therapeutic frameworks. Astrological charts are typically open to interpretation, and are highly individualized. As any astrologer will tell you, no two Geminis or Leos are the same. People are obsessed with being one sign or another, because it’s easy to attach an identity to that, says Scarlett Woodford, 37, founder of a PR agency for brands who wish to be guided by divine or cosmic timing. For example, Leos are often stereotyped as relishing in the spotlightbut depending on what else is in your chart, you might not instantly relate to being the center of attention and find that your Leo energy shows up in less obvious ways. It’s definitely worth seeing the bigger picture, Woodford says. Finding the perfect job I think millennials as a generation [are] more open to seeking alternative ways of understanding their place in the universe, says Chris Brennan, professional astrologer and host of The Astrology Podcast, which has more than 250,000 subscribers on YouTube. He says theyre also more likely to take advantage of any available tools that might help them to navigate the world during these increasingly uncertain times. In a time of shifting workplace normswhere remote work and portfolio careers are increasingly common, and the traditional career ladder shakier than everworkers have never had more agency over how they choose to work. For some, especially younger folks like Gen Zers and millennials, consulting the stars is part of that path. Content creator Amelie Polk says, To find your optimal career, you’ll want to look into your whole chart: mainly the Midheaven, North Node, Saturn sign, and second house. That might sound like a foreign language to laypeople. But astrology fans say using the bevy of online astrology tools and apps out there to dive into your birth chart, and spot patterns or invite self-questioning, might trigger certain intuitive aha moments. For instance, depending on which planets were in which location at the time of your birth, that could help determine whether youd benefit from a nurturing, slower-paced work environment or a faster, more competitive one. This career is gonna be good for you. This career won’t work for you, Polk says. This will burn you out. This won’t. Dont just take an astrologer’s word for it: Famous businesspeople and politicians have been rumored to credit astrology with some of their success. As J.P. Morgan famously didor didntsay: Millionaires dont use astrology. Billionaires do. Or as one former aide told The New York Times, look to President Ronald Reagan reportedly timing the announcement of his reelection campaign after consulting astrological signs. For Myers, shes also used astrology to guide her decision-making at work. After paying closer attention to her birth chart, she made the decision to step down from her role as director at her company to be a senior strategist. I realized I dont want to be climbing the corporate ladder, she says. Understanding astrological patterns has, in many ways, regulated Myers nervous system at work, too: New York is an intense city, and advertising can be an intense field, she says. But, she adds, astrology provides perspective. Astrology has actually made me feel more likeits not that deep.
Category:
E-Commerce
As AI takes on more analytical and operational decision-making, the leaders who will stand out are those who can do what machines cant: read emotional cues, build trust, and inspire teams to act. In this new landscape, emotional intelligence is more than a soft skill. Its becoming the core differentiator of effective leadership. I once advised a CEO whose metrics looked flawless. Revenue was rising, costs were under control, and the company was steadily gaining market share. Yet during their board review, the room was uncomfortably quiet. The results are fine, one board director finally admitted. But people dont trust him anymore. Spreadsheets might tell you if targets are met, but not whether teams are aligned, engaged, or on the verge of burnout. Emotional intelligenceunderstanding your impact, reading others, and managing human dynamicsis no longer a soft skill. Its the strategic edge that separates leaders who can sustain success from those whose results plateau. Why Emotional Intelligence Is the Edge That AI Cant Imitate Artificial intelligence can process mountains of data and surface recommendations. But it cant read a room, detect unspoken tension, or inspire the extra effort people give when they feel seen and understood. Leaders who master emotional intelligence can turn insight into action by aligning teams, building trust, and keeping people motivated when uncertainty hits. Emotional intelligence isnt about being nice. Its about mastering awareness and influence. It means recognizing how your words land, sensing team dynamics in real time, and regulating your own responses to lead with clarity. And boards are paying attention. Across industries, board directors are quietly redefining what effective leadership looks like. Beyond the numbers, theyre now asking whether a CEO can: Create psychological safety that fuels innovation Stay composed when the stakes are high Leads teams through ambiguity without losing alignment Leaders who demonstrate emotional intelligence make better decisions, communicate more effectively, and retain top talent, even during disruption. In other words, emotional intelligence is no longer a personality trait. Its a strategic asset. Practical Ways to Cultivate Emotional Intelligence Emotional intelligence isnt innate. Its a skill developed through self-awareness, reflection, and consistent effort. The most effective leaders I advise understand this. And they work at it with intention. Audit your emotional impact. After meetings or key interactions, ask trusted peers: How did my tone land? or What signals might I have sent unintentionally? These quick debriefs help surface blind spots. Even small shifts in tone, body language, or word choice can significantly improve how your message is received and strengthen alignment across your team. Pause before interpreting emotion. When tensions rise or signals seem unclear, take a step back and ask yourself: What is this person really trying to communicate? Approaching emotions with curiosity rather than assumption helps you defuse potential conflict and uncover the needs or concerns beneath the surface. Separate intensity from clarity. High-stakes moments often come with heightened emotions. But urgency doesnt require volume. Communicating calmly, even when the stakes are high, improves your ability to be heard and understood. It also sets the tone for more thoughtful, grounded responses from others. Practice dual awareness. Emotional intelligence means tuning into both the external dynamics of a situation and your own internal reactions. By observing what’s happening both in the room and within yourself, you can respond more intentionally. Build emotionally diverse teams. Surround yourself with people who are attuned to different emotional cues, i.e., those who pick up on what you might overlook. Their insight is a strategic advantage that deepens your perspective and strengthens team decision-making. Leading in the Age of AI AI is taking over many tasks once seen as markers of intelligence, including things like speed, recall, and analytical precision. What remains squarely in the hands of leaders are the uniquely human capabilities: judgment, empathy, and the skill to translate complexity into clarity. Leadership today means making sense of ambiguity, anchoring teams in shared purpose, and sustaining trust over time. Those who excel lead alongside AI, using emotional intelligence to turn insight into action. The most effective leaders of the next decade wont be those who know the most, but those who see the most in themselves, their teams, and the emotional terrain they navigate daily. Because emotional intelligence isnt a luxury. It is the infrastructure of effective leadership.
Category:
E-Commerce
Isaac, 33, has been a mid-level software development engineer at a Big Tech firm for four years, and noticed entry-level job postings dropping at his workplace at the start of 2025. The work, however, didnt vanish with them. Tasks once handled by junior engineerslike writing and testing code, fixing bugs, and contributing to development projectswere absorbed by senior staff, often with the assumption that AI would make up the difference.And while AI has sped up the velocity of shipping code and features, there are fewer people to do tasks like designing, testing, and working with stakeholders, which AI has zero grasp on. The cracks have been hard to ignore. Seniors are burning out, and when they leave, theres no rush to replace them, because the AI will do it! Isaac says. Worried that hell become the next strung-out senior, hes looking for his exit, ideally at a smaller tech firm. (Isaac spoke to Fast Company under a pseudonym to avoid possible retaliation.) The shift is striking, given how recently corporate America was courting Gen Z with fanatic fervor. Organizations raced to prove they understood younger employees. They flooded LinkedIn with thought leadership on the multigenerational workplace of the future, and retooled benefits programs to include wellness stipends and mental health days. Reverse mentorship programs, through which younger employees share knowledge and perspectives with more senior colleaguestouted by companies like Target, Accenture, and PwCpromised to give junior employees a voice in shaping culture and strategy. Some firms even brought Gen Z voices into the boardroom.Yet now, in the case of firms like Isaacs, entry-level workers, once heralded as essential to innovation and growth, are struggling to get a toelet alone a footin the door. Internships, starter jobs, and junior roles, the indispensable on-ramps to white-collar careers, have been evaporating for several years due to cost pressures and post-pandemic belt-tightening. Since 2023, entry-level job postings in the U.S. have sunk 35%, according to labor research firm Revelio Labs.The advent of AI is accelerating the entry-level apocalypse. Two-fifths of global leaders revealed that entry-level roles have already been reduced or cut due to efficiencies made by AI conducting research, admin, and briefing tasks, and 43% expect this to happen in the next year. While theres steady hiring or even growth in the skilled trades, were seeing entry-level vacancies fall significantly in tech and customer service and sales roles, says Mona Mourshed, founder of the workplace development nonprofit Generation. Being in the business of training and placing people into entry-level roles, we find it deeply concerning. Graduates are clearly not okaybut neither are the companies that decided they could do without them. AI at work: the supercar with no driver The logic was seductive in its simplicity. Cut costs, move faster, shrink training budgets, let AI and a leaner workforce handle the rest. In reality, its producing something else entirely: flattened teams with little agency, endless cycles of rework, and exhausted senior employees juggling all task levels at once. One redditor who posted about how their company has stopped hiring entry-level engineers, received hundreds of other responses as others chiming in with similar stories. One commenter noted: Not sure what the plan will be after the knowledge transfer is over.Isaac has watched this dynamic unfold firsthand. Leaders at his company see AI as a force multiplier, and are fixated on shipping features quickly. Isaac can see their point: [AI] can straight up write better, faster, more legible code than most developers, he admits. However, he points out, any seasoned engineer knows the hard part isn’t writing the code, its the design and testing. Yet, theres far fewer people to delegate this work to, so senior developers are left to do this on their own. Compounding the problem is the fact that AI doesnt understand the problem its meant to solve. Left unchecked, it can go rogue. Isaac recalls multiple instances of chatbots deleting production stacksunpromptedbecause they couldn’t figure out how to solve an issue. Without an expert who knows how to prompt and guide it, AI is just a supercar with no driver, he says. The team has seen their workload steadily increase in line with automation, so the time savings it creates have had little impact. Many seniors have checked out, with several burned out engineers signed off for medical leave. Research from the project management platform Asana underscores this growing “efficiency illusion.” While 77% of workers are already using AI agents and expect to hand more off to them in the next year, nearly two-thirds say the tools are unreliable, and more than half say agents confidently produce incorrect or misleading information. The result is time down the drain: a U.S. study found that employees are spending an extra 4.5 hours a week fixing AI workslop. AI can make work look faster on the surface, but it can also create a lot of cleanup workdouble-checking outputs, correcting errors, and redoing steps that were based on faulty information, Mark Hoffman, Asanas Work Innovation Lead, tells Fast Company. When something goes wrong, accountability is murky, he adds, and the responsibility often falls back on the employee to catch errors, explain outcomes, and manage the risk. Its driving up already record-high levels of burnout; 77% of knowledge workers say their workloads are unmanageable, and 84% are digitally exhausted.When errors slip through, the consequences are costly and embarrassing. Three-quarters of Americans report at least one negative consequence from poor AI outputs, including work rejected by stakeholders (28%), security incidents (27%), and customer complaints (25%). In October, Deloitte was forced to refund the Australian Department of Employment and Workplace Reltions after a report was found to contain AI hallucinations and workslop. In the past, newbie consultants would have handled tasks such as this. However, notably, Deloitte cut its graduate cohort by 18% and slashed hundreds of early-career roles earlier that summer. The demographic time bomb Not only are workloads increasing, by hollowing out their junior ranks, businesses are putting themselves squarely in the path of a slow-burning demographic time bomb as seniors begin to retire in record numbers.From 2024 to 2032, 18.4 million experienced workers age 55 to 64 with postsecondary education are expected to retire, but only 13.8 million younger workers (currently age 16 to 24) are entering with equivalent qualifications. Even in an AI-powered economy, where certain jobs will be automated, companies still need humans with judgment-, context-, institutional-, and sector-specific insight. Yet plenty are making movesat least for todayto wipe out the training ground that turns beginners into experts.There wont be an endless supply of experienced hires to fall back on, so everyone will be fighting for the limited, increasingly expensive talent with domain expertise, says Cali Williams Yost, futurist and founder of flexible-work consulting firm Flex+Strategy Group. Companies have maybe five years to train younger workers to take over and gain the niche knowledge, so AI has something to augment. Moe Hutt, an entry-level recruitment marketing expert and director of consulting at recruitment marketing agency HireClix, has watched clients scale back or abandon entry-level hiring, citing AI-aided workflows and economic uncertainty. Hutt points to the less visible fallout within organizations beyond damaging the talent pipeline. Its human nature to want to help, she says. When theres no release valve of training juniors, it creates friction everywhere. For middle and senior management, delegating, teaching, and watching someone grow is a reward for the experience. Research consistently shows that sharing knowledge and mentoring improves motivation, boosts psychological well-being, and reduces burnout among experienced employees. With no one to train or teach, disengagement spreads, eroding a workforce where most people have already checked out. Being AI-savvy and being prepared for the demographic cliff arent mutually exclusive. Organizations can build pro-worker environments where employees are augmented with AI, without hollowing out their future talent pipelines. PwCadmittedly, another firm which has been open about its cuts to entry-level recruiting, at least in the U.K.is experimenting with what that balance could look like by training junior accountants to become managers of AI. Entry-level employees gain early exposure to leadership and accountability, while the firm builds a cache of managers that are fluent in both human judgment and machine output. Its proof that efficiency and succession planning can coexist. This matters because disappearing entry-level jobs arent just a problem for the corporate workforceit will be a societal crisis, too. A functioning society depends on younger generations steadily taking over from older ones. AI might be able to write the code, but without people trained to guide it, question it, and eventually replace their elders, there will be no one left to keep the lights on.
Category:
E-Commerce
All news |
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||