CAREER AND ORGANIZATIONAL RENEWAL: The Development Imperative

Post-pandemic Management and Employee Preparations

In your organization, what steps are leaders and managers taking to prepare for the future of work? Many of the managers have had conversations with their leaders and employees, collaboratively addressing needs and expectations, especially those regarding remote work. 

According to a study conducted by McKinsey, employees working in a computer-based position could spend 70% of their time working remotely without losing effectiveness.

As a result, they anticipate hybrid remote work for the long-term. And we see this with our clients: many are adopting a hybrid system. Of course, management practices will be critical to success.

Here are few questions to consider from a recent Harvard Business Review article:

Questions for Managers

• How will you support a healthy remote-work climate? 

• How will you support employees as they manage competing priorities, professional and personal

• How will you support a sense of psychological safety?

• How will you consciously engage your employees?

• How will you foster employee trust and accountability?

• What tools, resources, and practices will you need, and use?

Studies find that even small doses of high-quality social interaction can lower stress and improve well-being. Predictable communications, that is to say, a predictable cadence can foster productivity and foster trust. 

High performing teams are most often led by managers who use virtual and/or face-to-face meetings to connect socially, build personal relationships, and engage all employees. The best managers ask questions, show vulnerability, share reliable information, and are open to new ideas.

Whether the future of work in your organization will transition back into full-time, in-office work or some type of hybrid, safety is critical to empower talent and productivity. 

Some offices are utilizing a virtual receptionist who can work from an onsite or offsite office. With new technology and Apps, receptionists can monitor and manage air quality, virtual meeting attendees can share whiteboards, and management (or IT) can have certain limits on work-from-home devices.

Your Future of Work is Now

What are your expectations about work in the future? As an employee, what steps are you taking now to prepare for the future of work?

Based on the conversations we’ve been having, there remains a great deal of uncertainty about if, when, and how employees will return to work. Some anticipate a ramp-up from part-time to full-time work, with a hybrid mix of remote and in-person time. 

With a lack of communication between leaders, managers, and employees, it’s not uncommon for tensions to grow. Add to that a resistance to relinquish telecommuting and/or receive a vaccination, employees may limit their career options. 

Instead, employees can prepare for the future of work by focusing on their performance, expanding skills, and effective, positive communication. 

Prepare Your Future Now

Here are a few tips for employees who are working remotely:

• Consider returning to the office for work one day/week. If you work with a team, consider how you might share one office, rotating your time, to reduce real estate costs. Alternatively, or in addition, you might coordinate your time, so you are all together, post vaccination.

• Prepare for face-to-face meetings. Plan 25% of your meetings (with colleagues or clients) to be in-person.

• Be proactive in your own goal setting and tracking. Share your intentions and results with your manager.

• Expand your knowledge and skills.
  There is, and will be, a growing need for workers who can create, deploy, and maintain new technologies, as well as social and emotional skills. Participate in training and share your experience and accomplishments with your manager.

• Be flexible and open to new ideas, opportunities, and reassignment within your organization. McKinsey research finds that a markedly different mix of occupations may emerge post-Covid. Job growth is most likely in healthcare, STEM, warehousing, and transportation.

• Stay positive. Agility and collaboration can lead to greater productivity, career growth, and upward mobility. Consider working with a trusted mentor or coach; let us know how we can help.

What do you think? What are you doing to prepare for the future of work? Please leave a response below.