04 May Working From Home – The New Normal?
Twitter have just announced that their employees can continue to work from home post-pandemic, a move that will likely to be the first of many. Meanwhile: politicians, unions and businesses start to adjust to tentative plans to open some physical workspaces over the next few weeks and months.
This poses some key questions for leaders – and it is a long list!
First and foremost, how do we keep our workers safe?
What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) to embrace whichever new reality is to be faced?
What challenges and hurdles need to be overcome?
What are the risks and issues?
Regardless of whether a business is looking at a new way of working, or returning [safely] to and old way of working, they must capitalise on the diversity of people and take the opportunity to reflect and critically examine WHAT they do, HOW, WHERE, WHEN and WHY they do it.
The one certainty is that change will be required. We may not ever be able to work and engage with each other in the way we used to. But whatever comes next must create and nurture collaboration, facilitate better ways of working, and enable streamlined processes. Get it right, and the benefits can be to reduce team conflict, bureaucracy, micromanagement, and increase empowerment, innovation, and trust. These factors directly and positively impact on ability to stay agile and relevant, whilst increasing productivity, engagement, and profitability.
How will you take the opportunity to reflect on the ideal new workplace? Would you assess this internally and risk the “same old, same old” blinkered and narrow thinking? Or could external and objective support help you to review and assess to better bring about positive change?