Perspectives on the Future of Work: November 21

Upwork’s biweekly column brings you the latest news on the future of work, including trends, freelancing, and other shifts in the way we get things done.

This week’s roundup highlights:

• Could freelancing bring more balance to the U.S. economy? Upwork CEO Stephane Kasriel thinks there’s potential—if steps are taken to help support freelance professionals.
• The changing world of work takes a different way of thinking. Heather Willems offers her ideas to help shift your perspective.

Here’s a look at the latest headlines:

Fast Company | How Protecting Freelancers Could Boost the U.S. Economy

Could the freelance economy encourage more balance in the U.S. economy? Upwork CEO Stephane Kasriel thinks it’s possible. “If you look at the last 40 years or so, GDP has become more concentrated in a smaller number of cities,” Kasriel told freelance journalist Jared Lindzon. “There are about 100 cities in the world that do about 50% of the world’s GDP.”

That’s created an imbalance; some regions struggle while others are booming at an unsustainable pace.

The 2016 Freelancing in America study, conducted by Upwork and Freelancers Union, found that while freelancing is strong in urban areas, it’s just as strong in suburban and rural areas—with a lot of potential for growth.

One way to support freelancers, Kasriel says, is to protect their income. Freelancing in America found freelancers face an average loss of $6,390 from clients who skip out on payments. More protection, he says, could “encourage [more people] to enter the freelance economy, improve unemployment in some areas, and congestion and the rising cost of living in others.”

Open Forum | The Power of Non-Linear Thinking

In the midst of all this change, creative thinking is at a premium. Getting in the right frame of mind, according to Heather Willems of Image Think, means learning to think like an artist.

“It is rare that artists can sit down at a blank canvas and instantly make a masterpiece,” she said. “Rather, they first have to gather research, tap into their insight and then practice creative thinking by working and re-working the canvas.”

As Willems explains, typical linear thinking “can lead to getting stuck in tunnel vision.” Instead, she says, people need to lean more on their insight, intuition, creativity, and emotion.

She offers several suggestions to help you shift your way of thinking, such as connecting with people who work in adjacent industries. “Step back and make space for your intuition to see the broader picture as a way to spark new ideas,” she said.

How you changed the way you work to fit the future of work? Share your experience in the comments below.

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