COVID-19 has presented human and economic issues that have never been seen before. The challenge was embraced by organizations around the world, which responded rapidly to protect employees and adapt to a new way of working that even the best business continuity plans could not have predicted.
The Future of Work After COVID-19
The common opinion before the pandemic was that offices were crucial to productivity, culture, and winning the struggle for talent. Companies competed fiercely for prime office space in key global cities, with many focusing on solutions that were perceived to enhance collaboration. The pandemic changed how we work, whether it’s a small or large-scale business.
We've seen firms and employees adopt new abilities and develop new behaviors that have changed the way we function during this unusual period. Many firms have been able to utilize the COVID-19 pandemic as a catalyst for change, but how has this aided in improving the way we work?
Office Culture To Supportive Culture
For decades, we've been brainwashed into believing that a 9-to-5 office job is the greatest way to do business. We're seeing a shift in productivity and employee freedom as people have been pushed to work from home, and businesses have had to adapt.
Businesses have been pushed to take just the best aspects of office culture and free employees from wasteful processes and poor habits as a result of this shift in working life. Leaders are shifting their focus away from workplace culture and toward a more supportive culture, with a renewed emphasis on how to improve employees' work life integration while still getting the best out of them.
Hisense Mexico is a great example of this, as they worked from home and supported their team throughout this period. Their first concern has been to keep team members at home and safe, as well as motivated, involved, and informed.
Virtual-First Companies
Many businesses are moving toward hybrid workplaces, where employees can work remotely as well as in the office. As a result of this transformation in how we work, more organizations are becoming “virtual first.” This means that offices and homes are becoming workplaces, and people have the choice to choose how they work.
Companies must be virtual-ready to work in this new manner. Leaders must be able to manage, train, and evaluate virtual teams, and technology must be in place to make this possible.
Businesses are being compelled to embrace remote communications as a form of technology. This means that data is stored in the cloud, and security safeguards are in place for various working modes. In a variety of ways, the Coronavirus pandemic is driving these changes and advances. Businesses are being compelled to embrace remote communications as a form of technology.
A Crash Course On Modern Technology
During the pandemic, the entire workforce was forced to learn new skills and gain new experiences. Our population has been compelled to take a crash course in modern technology, and as a result, more individuals than ever before have the skills and knowledge to work efficiently from any location.
Businesses have been driven to embrace tech leadership in previously unheard-of ways. Estee Lauder, for example, moved fast to integrate technology into their point-of-sale. Customers can try on their products safely and securely thanks to innovative “virtual try-on” features.
Nike is another great example of a business that has embraced technology to assist them to change how they do business in these unusual times. Their teams collaborated fast to allow for the sale of more products online than ever before.
There's little doubt that the new skills and technologies that we've had to learn will help businesses thrive in the post-pandemic environment. If it hadn't been for Coronavirus, many employees and businesses would never have had the opportunity or incentive to become so knowledgeable about modern technologies.
Overlapping Personal And Professional Lives
For years, we've kept our professional and personal lives separate, with little crossover. With the rise of Zoom meetings and remote working, we now have access to our coworkers' personal places.
Every video call and virtual meeting exposes the personal lives of colleagues, bosses, and clients.. We've grown accustomed to seeing employees' children and pets on-screen, frequently in meetings and phone conversations.
While this may appear to be a distraction from the workday, these small insights into our personal lives can boost business connections. When working from home, it's nearly impossible to maintain a completely professional persona while also allowing colleagues to see into team members' personal lives.
These personal encounters are not in any way unprofessional. Instead, they give teams a new method to connect and get to know one another. Overlapping personal and professional life can help teams collaborate more effectively and understand one other's daily struggles.
Increased Focus On Mental Wellbeing
Mental health concerns have increased dramatically as a result of the Coronavirus. While this is by no means a good thing, it has caused firms to pay more attention to their employees' mental health. Companies are doing more than ever to preserve and encourage positive mental health among employees, and this trend will continue as the world returns to normal.
Even before the pandemic, several employers, like Ipsen, prioritized mental health. However, in these trying times, many businesses have realized that mental health is more vital than ever. Ipsen provided mental health training to its teams and selected health and wellness ambassadors to assist employees.
In the aftermath of the pandemic, the focus on mental health in the workplace is likely to continue. Many firms have been pushed to recognize and comprehend the importance of mental health at work.
As a result, we hope that many of these positive work outcomes, such as a greater focus on mental health and wellbeing, more freedom and flexibility for employees, and outstanding innovations, will keep the workforce happy and healthy while businesses remain creative, responsive, and successful as we move forward.
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