The COVID-19 crisis has prompted businesses all around the globe to modify their operations for safety’s sake, with such measures as requiring employees to work from home becoming commonplace. Economic instability associated with the pandemic has also led to a shift in focus--businesses are working to become more efficient and resilient.
But these changes won’t become irrelevant once the curve is flattened--we’re finding out in real time what works, what doesn’t, and what might someday with regard to how our organisations weather change.
There are two keys to implementing the lessons we’re learning now in the long term: technology and culture. These two elements go hand in hand--technology defines communication and workflow; culture and people make their implementation possible and keep the company moving forward.
Culture, as it relates to technology, is more than just the outlook of a single company. It’s about how the workforce as a whole thinks about the tools that facilitate their work. A “digitally transformed” world is one in which technology works seamlessly for the aims of people, rather than workers feeling like slaves to technology.
This outlook can open the door to:
- New resources for hiring and supporting the best possible talent for your company, no matter where they live.
- More flexibility for your employees--giving them the tools to work in whatever way gets them the best results.
- Increased transparency, trust, and cohesiveness within your teams.
Workers need to understand where they fit into the big picture while maintaining the sense of autonomy that innovation requires. When businesses choose the tools their employees use with this in mind, great things happen.
- Disruptions to the business because of unexpected events are limited and mitigated.
- You can attract people who are leading the field--and keep them on board.
- Leads on the competition are achieved and maintained.
Ask yourself what you’ve learned about your technological and cultural situation through these turbulent past few months. What problems have arisen--and where have things gone better than expected? What are your employees’ needs, and how can you respond to them with the resources available to you? Is everyone on the same page? These are the questions that are building the workplaces of the future.