Recent years have triggered more conversation around the shifts that are defining the future of work.
The ability to work from anywhere is just one of the trends.
Trying to adjust old systems may prove to be more difficult than setting aside “the way it was done” and reimagining the possibilities of “what could be”.
My Perspective
Based on everything I’ve read, spoken to others about, and personally observed, there are five areas where I would set aside current structures and reimagine the system:
- The Employment Contract – Think about each position and don’t automatically go to a full-time employee contract. Consider other options – part time, freelance, contract, vendor. The solutions may be beneficial to both the company and the employees looking for financial diversification and a breadth of opportunities.
- Accountability – Instead of leaning on seeing people in the office or on video calls, consider setting deadlines, deliverables, and quality standards. Create an atmosphere where employees can bring their own agency to the role and choose the way (based on how/when they work best) that they will accomplish the assignments.
- Reset the Foundation – Most companies / teams rely on meetings and email. These systems have overtaken the actual work. Individuals can spend over 5 hours of their day in meetings that aren’t advancing their personal objectives. Shifting the busy culture of meetings and endless email won’t be easy, but the organization will benefit from the productivity gains when teams are focused on the work, not meeting about the work.
- Trust & Culture – These are two important dimensions that have taken a hit in recent years. Part of the challenge can be attributed to hybrid work. You don’t build trust and culture the same way in these structures that you do in an office setting. This does not mean we need to return to the office – this means we need to rethink what trust means to our team, how we build it, and how to create a culture that aligns with our company values.
- Learning & Development – Personal growth will continue to rise in importance as skills will turn over quickly with the advancement of technology. Organizations and individuals need to think through how to support this ongoing development with courses and coaching. Individuals learn differently and one solution may not be the best route. Having books, audio content, videos to reference and in-person, interactive sessions should all be in the mix to speak to different styles.
These five areas won’t be easy and there are MANY layers of thinking and actions to implement change in each one of them. However, if I were leading an organization, these are the areas I would consider when determining where to start.
Your Turn
Do you agree these areas need to be reimagined?
Which do you see as the most important area to start with?
Which would be easier/more difficult to address in your organization?