Trust is a hygiene factor.

I have recently shifted to a new role in a different organisation and what has been interesting is the number of people who have asked me whether this job is as flexible as my previous one.

I am far from “millennial”, however, I would not even begin to engage with an organisation who did not acknowledge the complexities of work life and trust that their people can manage outcomes with a responsible attitude.

The good news is that the trend appears to be moving in that direction.

Frederic Laloux, in “Reinventing Organisations”, unearths the self-managed organisational model, and illustrates how “trust breeds trust”. “Well-being” and “wellness” seem to be the words of the day, with an increasing number of organisations attending to the health of their employees. Workplace “experience” is as much discussed as “efficiency” lately (though not necessarily followed through…).

With talent engagement, attraction and retention high on the agenda, the understanding and support for people to manage their lives is critical to maintaining a high performing workforce.

It’s an empathetic and human approach, and who doesn’t need that? (We are not robots yet).

And, yes, (whilst I sit writing this in an airport lounge), my current role is as flexible as it should be.