Wondering What’s Ahead...

For many of us, the end of summer is approaching, and kids are going back to school. The next week is time well spent looking backwards and forwards and mulling over what’s next as we prepare to ramp up for the busy months that round out the year. In this period of accelerated change and transformation, the way ahead is not clear and most of our companies are at a fork in the road, an intersection, or even a traffic circle, with some executives wanting to turn and go back again. But we are certainly in a better place than before, and we know much more about where we are going:

• We are living with and managing COVID19.
• We are utilizing sophisticated new technologies embedded into operations.
• We are realizing how digitalization has been changing the nature of business and work.
• We are recognizing that talent is a key source of long-term competitive advantage.
• We are figuring out that we can each set up our working lives differently to suit us better.

The ongoing changes, their effects, and your insights are vital to identify and synthesize explicitly for your specific business, workforce, and situation. Then you will be better informed and equipped to continue to adapt and advance over the months ahead to achieve sustainable growth. During the next week, to support ongoing adjustments for the new era of business and work, you will benefit if you reflect on where you are, what you know, and what more you would benefit from finding out:

What are your key learnings since March 2020? Looking back over the months since the pandemic struck, what more do you now know? How did processes change with technology implementations? What innovations were possible? What new ideas were sourced from across your organization? How were employees’ skills tested and assigned differently with what results? Which of these experiences could be benefited from going forward? Write down three new capabilities that you have discovered employees are capable of—wherever they are working from.

What are the new rules of engagement? Marketplace developments are less predictable and faster-paced. Our customers are changing their behaviors, using new technologies and making new choices as living and working arrangements and environments evolve. Having emerged from crisis conditions, identify five refinements and tweaks across different areas that you and your team could usefully implement in the coming weeks and months relating to the business model, target audience, and operational framework.

How should the business be oriented and operated going forward? Does everyone at the company know who the (updated?) target customer is? Do they have the same understanding about who they are and what their needs are? Do any new workflows—adapted for digitized operations—need adjustment for shifts in business emphasis, supply chain disruptions, economic uncertainties, evolving work arrangements, or incoming hires? Describe workflows you are comfortable with and then list three that could benefit from further clarity and iterations when everyone is back from vacation.

How are employees going to be attracted, engaged, and retained? Employees need to be more absorbed in their tasks and interested to find solutions for the complex issues we are now facing. Are you wondering who might leave the company next or has already quit on site—ie they have disengaged and are just going through the motions? Draw on the comments different employees have told you and others over the past year or more to figure out five immediate actions you could take during September that would help ensure your team stays, engages more fully, and performs at the levels you need.

Does your organization need to offer meaningful workplace flexibility (including remote working)? If you wonder about whether integrating remote working is important for your company, group, or team, listen to my latest podcast episode with Paul McKinlay, VP Communications and Remote Working at Cimpress and Vista (prev. VistaPrint). He leads a team of dedicated resources focused on implementing and excelling at the companies’ “Remote First” strategy which is a core part of how they are building competitive advantage. They are listening to and learning from their employees.

It's almost time to get back on track, pick up the pace, and get going! Why not use this week to wonder what's ahead as well as think about all that you already know and have survived and thrived through. When you bring it all together, it makes much more sense. You’ve got this!

For much more information about how to navigate the Future of Work now it has arrived, read or listen to my new book?"Empathy Works: The Key to Competitive Advantage in the New Era of Work".?Please also check out the latest episode of my podcast "Transforming Work with Sophie Wade" where is all about going "Remote First".