The Future of Work - Part 3 - Culture, Leadership and Values in a Remote Setting

Maintaining culture, leadership and values in a remote setting

Organisations need to actively and intentionally curate and rebuild their culture in ways that reflect the new world of work – this applies to leadership as well. It won’t happen by itself, or by default.

This means managers resisting returning to strict boundaries between the personal and professional. If they tap into the closeness with employees that many found during the pandemic, they will find it strengthens connections and trust. They should also encourage experimentation and creativity, lead with empathy, and set out to create an inclusive work environment. Lastly, it is important to really listen to workers—what they think about how new working patterns, as well as their actual day to day job while based from home, are affecting them.

The new workplace is wherever work is done

What about the office? Well, the new workplace is wherever work is done, whether it’s at the office, at home, in a café, or in a shared space or hotdesk. This is the reality.

Many organisations are re-sizing and re-thinking their office needs based on the changing working model. They can modify their office spaces to support collaboration, creativity, and a sense of community.

Managers can enhance this by encouraging employees to work where they’re most productive, but also tailor workplace policies and procedures to the types of work being done. Alternative workplace options beyond the office or home come into play too, such as satellite offices, shared workplaces, and commercial sites.

Reconfiguration needs to be carried out with employee engagement in mind. Collaborative spaces, if done right, will promote creativity and innovation for both in-person and virtual attendees. Providing workers with an allowance and equipment to outfit and optimise home workspaces can help support their work and productivity.

Data security in a hybrid setting

There is a technical element to getting hybrid working right, and a major consideration is equipment, both in terms of digital collaboration tools and security. To ensure that workers can do their best work in personal as well as shared digital workplaces, organisations can take a number of steps including ensuring cybersecurity, encouraging seamless collaboration with the right digital tools, and investing in resources and training to build digital competence and skills.

They can also promote wellness by providing apps and tools that help workers focus and establish boundaries in a distraction-filled digital workspace. Using video calls sparingly, for example, can help reduce camera fatigue.