FutureSYNC Consultants – May 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused every industry to move, shift, and adapt in major ways. The ripple effects from the initial impact of the virus will cause things to settle in new and different configurations. There have been many aspects of business and organizational structure that have been exposed and changed. It is not wise to assume that once society bounces back from the restrictions and dangers that it will emerge to find things exactly how they were left.
Successful leaders will take advantage of this idea and capitalize on the opportunity to meet the “new normal” strategically. An assessment of the current situation would beg those savvy leaders to realize a few key points about the present and what it might mean for the future:
1. Recognize that, right now, you are standing on an unforeseen, uncharted Change Platform. Workplace culture is forever changed. Examining the present and looking into the future as a Change Engineer rather than a laissez-faire administrator will empower you to create change instead of being subject to it.
In a recent Forbes article, Tracy Brower wrote about how the pandemic has exposed some good and bad leadership traits: “ In the toughest times, the leaders who excel are those who communicate clearly, stay calm and strong, demonstrate empathy, think long-term and take appropriate decisive action.” Be the Change Engineer who engineers the way your workplace could be changed for the better. Now is not the time for organic or accidental movement; now is the time to drive your organization norms with intent.
2. An Identity Crisis is afoot and employee engagement will suffer. Because of the rate of change that was required by the pandemic, a major shift in empowerment was necessary. In the same Forbes article, Brower writes about this effect: “The COVID crisis has led many companies to reduce or eliminate unnecessary systems and has caused organizations to streamline processes to respond more quickly to coronavirus-based needs. In addition, many companies have had to delegate decision making to enhance speed—resulting in increased empowerment for employees. Whether they are HR systems, development systems, manufacturing systems or customer-response systems, the ability to respond quickly is likely to have a positive effect in the future. If we can increase efficiency and empowerment today, surely we will avoid more non-value-added work and decision bottlenecks in the future.”
Opening up seats at the decision-making table and delegating responsibilities in new ways could create previously untapped avenues of productivity and engagement. Wise Change Engineers will recognize this shift in empowerment, sift out the positive aspects, and catalyze them for future success.
3. Be ready and willing to make necessary endings for many standing workplace rituals. With the major disruption of things like in-person meetings and the 8-5 schedule, some organizations need to be ready to throw thoughts that fall into the “this is how we have always operated” line of thinking out the window. There will be change, and that’s ok. Understand the purpose of your work and steer the change to champion that goal. Some ways of working in the past might need to stay in the past.
To learn more from FutureSYNC’s Professional Workplace Culture & Change Engineers contact us at (406) 254-2326.
Brower, Tracy. “5 Predictions About How Coronavirus Will Change The Future Of Work.”Forbes, Forbes Media, 8 Apr. 2020, www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2020/04/06/how-the-post-covid-future-will-be-different-5-positive-predictions-about-the-future-of-work-to-help-your-mood-and-your-sanity/#52c93cc03e22.