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In our world today corporate relevance is closely tied to progressive workspace policies. Business leaders are compelled to rethink and reimagine their demands and expectations from their employees in order to stay ahead of the rapidly changing work norms.
In the last 18 months or so, multinational accounting firm PwC have been reporting that a significant 26 per cent of executives plan to change their approach in defining what is a “workspace” while 33 per cent plan to adopt mixed work model which uses hybrid, fully remote, fully in-office work models.
A shift in leadership approach and workspace policies are imperatives to create an environment that is suited for the mixed and hybrid work models. What worked before the pandemic will not work today.
Michal Hansen, CEO of educational technology company Cengage, shared in a contributed piece on Entreperenur.com how his company slowly adapts to the era of The Great Reimagination.
Hansesn said that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the challenges in the epoch of workspace redefinition.
Start by listening
He shares that it is important to listen to the sentiment of employees to fully understand how the company can create an environment and policies that will well suit their needs. Using data and insights through surveys and live forums will provide a more informed approach to the matter, Hansen said.
“By using data and creating opportunities for engagement and discussion, you can better understand the needs of your workforce to best foster productivity while maintaining employee satisfaction.” he said.
Take it step by step
Hansen says it is important to take the process as slowly as possible. Experimentation is key but pacing is imperative. New initiatives must be tested and evaluated. He advises against radical and abrupt policy changes within a company.
Be open to failure
Managing today’s workforce is all experimental. There are also varying instances presented to every company. New processes and approaches will have a probability of failing. When the inevitable happens Hansen suggests that leaders be open and honest to their employees. This will harness trust and loyalty among employees, Hansesn said.
