Returning to Work is More Complicated than Unlocking the Doors

As a?leadership?thought leader, I know that diverse teams are successful teams. Diversity fosters creativity, high customer satisfaction, and profits. It’s taken years for organizations?to understand the value of building diverse workforces, but now that the benefits are clear, thankfully it’s no longer a trend and it is becoming a consistent?practice.??

Diversity is more than ethnicity?and religion, it’s also gender identity,?and age. Older workers provide leadership, experience, mentoring, and institutional knowledge. Younger workers provide a technology-focused outlook, handle positions at varying levels in?the organization, and represent future talent.

What’s interesting is?as there’s a call back to the office, the different generations are having a difference of opinion.

Most Baby Boomers want to return to the office. Their experiences have always been based on in-person meetings and culture building.

For?Generation X,?many are more interested in staying home. They may be?caring for both?children and parents;?flexibility is key.

Millennials (Generation Y)?and Generation Z are split with some wanting to return to the office, seeing a need to experience office work, mentoring, and face time with managers. However, some are comfortable with work from home, having established a routine over the past 16 months and being proficient with technology.?

This is a simplified explanation. The articles I’ve chosen for this month delve deeper into this important divide.?

But as you return to work, consider the social needs of each generation. What are their financial and social pressures with childcare and eldercare needs??Do you have team members who need mentoring, formal training, leadership growth training, or cultural awareness training??

Agencies would do well to plan for a multi-tiered, back-to-work strategy and to?understand that yes, your workforce is engaged, but some?are suffering from?mental health stressors and perhaps career issues as they navigate where they want to be and where they want to go

As you lead your teams back to work, or through a hybrid or online option, it’s important to understand it’s not as simple as unlocking the front door. You must understand that the make-up of your team matters. You must also consider the concerns of the people walking through that door, regardless of age.

As always, I am here to provide assistance.?

Connect anytime you want to say?hello.?Contact me?with your 2021?questions and goals.