Hybrid working – how enlightened businesses are thinking.
As businesses are considering if and how to return to offices, we keep getting asked what other companies are doing. CEOs are keen to understand what practices more forward-thinking companies are adopting so they can consider following their lead.
We think this is a mistake. It’s not about copying what enlightened companies are doing but how they’re thinking.
Don’t get us wrong – looking outside of your own business for inspiration and learning is hugely important. But trialling a new working practice simply because others are doing it, is the wrong way to go about things.
Even within the hybrid option, there are many practices being debated. Some people are saying today’s workers want to be able to work from anywhere, to work the hours they choose, perhaps a 4-day week, or to have unlimited time off. But top-performing businesses aren’t simply jumping on the bandwagon.
The most enlightened and forward-thinking businesses think deeply about every new practice they introduce. The key to unlocking their decisions is knowing their cause - who they are and what they stand for. The principles their business has been built on. They use their cause as a lens to view the new world of work. And most importantly as a lens through which they make decisions.
Here’s how you can think like the most enlightened businesses:
Their business purpose is their north star. It’s the soul of the company, keeping everyone connected and headed in the same direction. When considering introducing new working practices, they make sure their decisions are framed by their purpose so they can accelerate their journey towards their north star.
Their company values are a statement to the world about what’s most important to them and give their people clear direction when facing dilemmas in their day-to-day work. Turn right for ‘experimentation’ and ‘risk taking’ or left for ‘error prevention’, for example. They think deeply about their core values and make sure new practices are aligned and support their people to make the right choices.
Considering what other beliefs are core to who they are and must never be sacrificed, they build a vision for their evolved workplace culture that offers a clear picture of the modern world of work. Only then do they start to think about introducing new working practices, discussing tensions and trade-offs through the lens of their cause.
They know they won’t get everything right first time. They’re prepared to trial new working practices - to test, learn and adapt as quickly as possible. They know employee feedback lies at the heart of their ability to analyse success and are relentless in seeking out the data they need. That means they’re always poised to prioritise their limited resources for maximum success.
We’re in unchartered territory with workplace culture and sadly there is no exact formula for success. But it’s your principles, not practices, that will ensure you create a thriving culture for sustainable success.
We’re working with businesses to help them see this time of disruption as an opportunity to introduce more human ways of working that put talent and people at the heart of business success.
Get in touch if you’d like to find out more about how we can help future-proof your business for success in 2021 and beyond.
