Your Next Step Depends on Your Path

If you are reading Remarkable Results for the first time, please subscribe here to get your new issue each week.? If you like what you read, share it with others!

We are living/working in interesting times. While some people know the future of their work and working arrangements (where they will work and which days), many still do not.? A significant number of organizations haven’t yet decided or communicated their future of work plans, while others have announced those plans but haven’t implemented (or have now delayed) them.? If you know your future work situation and are comfortable with it, this article may not be for you - share it with someone you know who still doesn’t know what their future holds or is waiting for that future to arrive.

That said, there are four groups I want to give some advice to at this important moment in time.? For each group, while the future is uncertain, I’m assuming there is some new complexity to the working arrangements, whether there is a hybrid or flexible component or just the realization that there will be some drift in the direction of hybrid work.? Here are the four groups, and some advice for each:

• Leaders in organizations with no stated plans. You need to be prepared yourself so you can shine a light for your team.? If you are feeling impatient and anxious, so are they.? Even if you aren’t, know that at least some of your team is becoming more anxious by the day.? The lack of knowledge may be hurting their productivity and mental health.? Be empathetic and listen.? And if you want to think about how to transition to what ever your hybrid future might be, consider my LinkedIn Learning course, Planning for Your Hybrid Future.
• Leaders in limbo, waiting for future plans to be implemented. Now is the time for you to communicate clearly as much as you know about timelines and processes with your team members.? If things are changing, let people know that too.? Beyond your leadership role though, you need to prepare yourself for your future success as a leader.? I’d humbly recommend our Building Effective Hybrid Teams Master Class.
• Team members in organizations with no stated plans. If this is you, you might be feeling pretty anxious.? The waiting and uncertainty might be negatively impacting you.? If so that is understandable, and you aren’t alone.? While you can’t set the organization's course personally, you can share your insights and perspectives.? Share your thoughts about what will best serve the organization and your team – don’t go on a personal rant. And whether you have a voice in the future plans or not, you can start preparing ourself for various possible future scenarios and think about the skills you might want to build in various working situations.? There are tons of courses here on LinkedIn, based on your particular needs.?
• Team members in limbo, waiting for future plans to be implemented. Now is the time to prepare yourself for your future success.? Assuming that implementation includes some sort of return to the office, you might be apprehensive about that return, the changes to your habits and more. Be thinking about how you need to prepare, spend time talking to others in your life about adjustments to routines and expectations, and consider taking the timely and effective new LinkedIn Learning course Prepare for Returning to the Workplace.

Note that my overall advice comes down to this: Be proactive.? Waiting rarely serves you, and certainly doesn’t now.? The future may be unclear or foggy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t seek the clarity and prepare for success in a different future. When the future is unclear those who get Remarkable Results continue to prepare, continue to learn, and continue to work.

Prepare and learn – that is what I hope to help you with here each week.

Enjoy the rest of your week – and the links to the resources below that will support your preparation and learning.? One or more may be just what you need to help you create Remarkable Results.

You are Remarkable!

Kevin ??

p.s.? Each week we produce the free Remote Work Newsletter.? If you want more practical ideas for remote and hybrid work, and what the future of work will hold, you can subscribe (for free!). It is one more way we are helping you get Remarkable Results.

Building Effective Hybrid Teams

Leaders are putting together the puzzle their organizational futures one piece at a time. Knowing how to build and lead a hybrid team is a central piece to that puzzle. This Master Class can show you how. Learn more...

Your Next Culture Will Be a New Culture

Whether or not you want it, you will have an organizational culture. The only question is whether or not you'll create the one you actually want. Watch...