The Future of Work

There is Opportunity in the Messy Middle

We are collectively going through what is likely the greatest workforce transformation ever. And the reality is, nobody knows how it's going to shake out. Every day, our feeds are jammed with articles about companies evaluating hybrid, remote, and in office work options for their employees, while we grapple with decisions around what’s best for our mental health, culture, productivity, and safety.

According to Korn Ferry, 82% of professionals plan to quit their job in the next six months, with 31% of them saying they would quit without another job lined up. It seems like everyone is considering their options, evaluating the work that is meaningful to them, and thinking about their career in new ways. Some call this The Great Resignation, others The Great Awakening.

Whatever we name this period, one thing is for sure: it’s messy. At times it can feel unsettling and uncertain, but this moment presents an opportunity to change work for the better for us all. At Simplicity Consulting, we talk with managers at leading brands, as well as talented marketing and communications professionals every day. Here’s what’s top of mind for them: Flexibility, Impact and Inclusion.

Flexibility is personal.

It’s no surprise that flexibility tops the list. This is a word I’ve heard for years from professionals and until the pandemic, something seldom experienced by most of them. According to a recent Citrix study in an HBR article, “88% of knowledge workers say that when searching for a new position, they will look for one that offers complete flexibility in their hours and location”.

Flexibility is about trust. It’s about managers trusting employees to do the work in whatever way is best for them, and on the flipside, employees knowing their manager trusts them to achieve their goals.?Listen to employees about where they are and what they need, and remember that flexibility changes over our lives. We all have life transitions. Births, deaths, moving to new locations at different periods in our careers – when things happen, we need flexibility in different ways. Sometimes, an individual can feel more connected to an employer when they are able to work remotely. At other times, that individual may desire more engagement with their team. Everyone is unique, and it’s important for managers to lean in and listen to their employees. There is no one size fits all solution to flexibility. It’s personal.

People want to make impact.

The key to delivering impact is to make an intentional shift to focus on outcomes, not only activity. I often advise consultants to proactively share with their clients the results and impact of their work, not just activities and tasks. For example, instead of saying ‘I spent 3 hours building a spreadsheet’, a consultant could demonstrate how their efforts led to an increase in sales, a reduction in costs, or improved efficiency. Our consultants often cultivate a positive team environment and culture with their positive attitude, which can contribute to an increase in productivity – this has made a huge difference during the pandemic. Empowering clients and teams to achieve success and being able to SEE their impact is transformative for consultants, and keeps them passionate about their work.??

An inclusive environment has become a non-negotiable.

Today’s workforce wants to join inclusive and diverse teams. They won’t tolerate toxic cultures. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently said, “Caring is the new currency”; it’s our unique differences that build communal resilience, and fostering a culture of inclusion, awareness and curiosity makes us all stronger. We recently invited Master Coach Patty Burgin to lead a Manager Training for our team to build our ‘coaching as a manager’ skillset. We practiced asking questions, level 3 listening (which is listening beyond the words) and coaching the person, not the problem. This is one example of how organizational leaders can strengthen inclusive values to create a caring culture. This work must be intentional and reinforced daily as it’s always a work in progress.

As we stand on the doorstep of 2022, I’m incredibly optimistic about what’s to come as we eventually emerge from the messy middle. The decisions we are making right now will define the future of work. We are the changemakers and we can make a positive difference. Let’s create a more flexible, high impact and inclusive working world for all of us.