Making a meaningful contribution to our new normal

The events of 2020 and the impact of COVID-19 have been felt by every one of us, all around the world. It is a year that will redefine the way we work and live our lives, not just now but for years to come.

In many ways, this is a quantum shift that few of us could have ever anticipated. However, one thing remains the same: individuals, leaders and organisations have a shared responsibility to do good, act with purpose and positively impact society.

At Sodexo, our history is one of influencing and improving Quality of Life for our clients, consumers and employees. In turn, we elevate Quality of Life across entire communities.

Today, we are reaffirming our commitment to going beyond the workplace as we help people and companies rise to these new challenges.

Understanding the pulse of clients, consumers and employees

For over 50 years, we have been committed to building close, trusting relationships with every individual and at every touchpoint. From food to cleaning, from a single employee to a global team, we have always been focused on all the individual experiences that make up Quality of Life.

Now, many of those experiences are changing out of concern for safety. Physical distancing and remote working have become essential. But responsible organisations will create workplaces where people aren’t just safe – they’re empowered and confident.

Changing mindsets, not just behaviours

Widespread changes in behaviour come with significant implications on emotional states and overall wellbeing.

According to WGSN, consumers are rethinking what it means to spend their time wisely, looking for increased autonomy and seeking transparency from every organisation they encounter.

These changes in mindset reflect new or increased needs that are not easily addressed by moving desks or encouraging remote work. They require more holistic changes in the way we expect people to work, the way we communicate and the way we connect with each other.

As individuals, we are all seeing the world differently than we did before. As leaders and organisations, we must shift our own worldviews to match.

 Taking a forward-thinking approach

As workplaces reopen, our new normal is already here. But, in many ways, this is just the beginning. Organisations need a sense of what the future may hold, but previous global events indicate some uncertainty.

According to BCG, the air travel industry that was impacted so dramatically by the 9/11 attacks returned to its previous trend line within 15 months. Contrastingly, women joining the workforce in World War II led to a significant, permanent shift in gender equality.

The experts agree on just one thing: change is here and further change is coming.

But a forward-thinking approach should not mean an attempt to anticipate the future or predict the unpredictable. Instead, organisations should prioritise agility and embrace flexibility, giving them the freedom to shift and evolve over time.

 COVID-19 has become a catalyst for change

Many of the biggest challenges our clients now face are around remote working, contactless interaction, decentralisation and digitalisation. These are all in-line with attitudinal shifts that were triggered by this crisis – but they are all changes that have been on our collective horizon for some time.

This is the good news for organisations concerned about change: these are all changes that have long been understood and anticipated. COVID-19 has not changed the direction of major trends in working. Instead, it has accelerated our movement along them.

As a result, our work at Sodexo has become more critical than ever before. We must rise to this moment and help our clients rise to new challenges.

 Embracing the next normal

Rise with Sodexo is not a new way of doing business or supporting our global clients. It is a new way of looking at the purposeful, impactful work we have been doing for decades.

For us, rise with Sodexo is a collective commitment to making a difference in this moment. We are helping the world rise with confidence to embrace the next normal – not just adapting to change but thriving in it.

Prioritising safety, wellbeing and productivity, the program brings together a comprehensive range of essential and innovative services, that will help our clients restart and take their business to the next level.

Putting people at the centre of change

Through our workplace consulting and design specialists at Wx, we are putting people at the heart of every change that we make. This is the result of both a systemic, structured approach and continually reviewing the way people work and live.

Wx maps user journeys and analyses comprehensive data from across every touchpoint. In this way, we are able to look at how physical spaces are used, how this can be improved, and where things need to change in terms of planning and physical distancing.

At the same time, Wx is at the forefront of workplace innovation, including touchless technology, digital solutions and integrated automation. These technologies go beyond removing infection risk to proactively make the workplace experience better for your people.

Our experts at Wx have also prepared a detailed overview of the potential post-pandemic consequences on workplaces and how you can adapt to create a productive, empowered and safe workforce. You can read more here

Harnessing the power of collective emotion

The implications of COVID-19 will continue to unfold for the foreseeable future. But with trusting, personal relationships and shared expertise, we can navigate these changes and step into the next normal with confidence.

Crucially, we must go beyond the essential to consider the emotional intelligence of the workforce. Our lives are a kaleidoscope of up to 500 emotional experiences per day. We may only be conscious of a fraction of them at any one time, but they color every interaction. With this understanding comes a recognition of the need to navigate these emotions in the workplace, meaning that emotional intelligence, now more than ever, has become a core skill set for high-performing organizations and outstanding leaders.

And the workplace itself can be emotionally intelligent – by allowing people to bring their full spectrum of emotions to work, and aligning their fundamental human needs and motivations.

However, my personal challenge is not just to capture collective intelligence, but also to harness the significant power of collective emotion.

It is this collective emotion that will drive successful teams and, in turn, successful organisations – no matter where and how they work.