The New Reality of Remote Work
The world of work has changed, and business leaders must accept this new reality. We are in the midst of a hybrid workplace revolution, and it’s time to reimagine the workplace. One of the first steps is transforming company culture: approaches that enabled success four years ago aren’t necessarily the best path forward today. Employees have different expectations, the work environment has changed, and technology has evolved.
Fostering engagement is more important than ever: a 2023 Gallup survey showed that only 32% of employees are engaged at work. Even worse, 18% are actively disengaged, doing negative work that others may need to rework. In some cases, in-person connections, which foster engagement, have been lost. To combat this, it’s essential that business leaders take steps to keep the culture in their remote/hybrid environment strong and ensure everyone feels like part of something bigger.
Building a Culture of Teamwork
To build a culture of teamwork, create environments where people can collaborate more effectively. Host virtual events, have informal meetings, and build trust within the team. Patrick Lencioni’s book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, emphasizes the importance of vulnerability-based trust. This means admitting mistakes, calling out unproductive behavior, and giving feedback to help each other improve.
Foster In-Person Connections Annual Summits and Team Building
To foster in-person connections, business leaders can create opportunities for employees to mix and get to know each other on a personal level, fostering a sense of belonging and teamwork. Examples can include annual summits, team-building activities, and more.
Gain Greater Flexibility with the Team of Teams Model
The Team of Teams model is an approach that was applied in US Special Forces, and provided greater agility, flexibility, and faster decision-making than the traditional command-and-control model. This approach empowers each team to act quickly and communicate better, and has been adopted by organizations to make faster decisions and operate more efficiently in a remote world.
Effectively Navigate Generational Differences
For the first time in history, we have five generations actively working together: Traditionalists, Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Gen Z. Each generation has different beliefs, work styles, goals, and communication preferences, and business leaders must understand these nuances to foster collaboration and build a winning culture.
Support Your Hybrid and Remote Teams with the Right IT Solutions
A 2023 article in the Harvard Business Review showed that employees want solutions that make collaboration easier. The survey noted, “Employees are looking for tools that enable collaboration seamlessly, automate repetitive work, and guide with insights, and that can be customized for specific business challenges.” Additionally, 85% of employees cited collaboration tools as one of the most critical areas of focus.
If you haven’t already, check out our recent blog on embracing Microsoft 365 for streamlined collaboration. With Teams at its core, and solutions like co-editing, AI and automation solutions, and tools to promote wellness, these solutions can help set your team up for success.
When it comes to remote and hybrid work, it’s also essential to ensure that you have the right security measures in place, as well as training, to ensure that sensitive data and business information is properly protected.
Remote and hybrid work is here to stay, and business leaders must adapt to this new reality. By transforming company culture, fostering teamwork, understanding generational differences, and implementing the right solutions, organizations can thrive in this new environment. Embrace the changes, empower your teams, and build a culture that supports collaboration and engagement.
