The only constant is change

There is an adage that “the only constant is change”. And it’s true. Change happens constantly, so you’d think companies would be better at handling it. COVID has put organizations in two groups – those that adjusted to the change and continue to ride it like a wave, and those that tried to fight the change.   

Unless change offers an immediate and obvious benefit, it can be tough to embrace. Typically, there is a transition period allowing for companies to pivot and come to terms with the change. However, if this transition occurs without a plan, structure or guidance, the result is often lower morale and productivity. Many companies have seen this play out during the pandemic.

A year ago, 50% of the workforce was forced to change to a working-from-home paradigm. Although staff may have thought about the possibility of working remotely in the past, few were prepared for what that meant in a pandemic environment.

Businesses were equally ill-prepared. Most SMEs did not have contingency plans that addressed the possibility of working remotely for over a year and while many companies talked about work from home, few truly embraced the idea. While most large corporations had a head start with annual business continuity testing, practically it had never been tested on the large scale that pandemic forces. The testing was based on a specific set of conditions for a very defined period and was very theoretical, this generally began to dissolve as time went on.  

Complicating the matter even further, it became clear that leaders needed to assist staff with staying motivated. As leaders, we need to remember that many employees did not ask or want to work remotely and need encouragement and help figuring out how to embrace this environment. While there was no time for a structured transition, some companies responded well to these challenges, others, less so.  

The companies that have seen fewer issues have witnessed a surprising outcome from the COVID experience – productivity is not completely associated with whether employees work in or out of the office. And a shift in how leaders engage and work with their teams is at the forefront of these successes. Studies have shown that leaders who have embraced agile project planning – a methodology that uses short development cycles and focuses on continuous improvement – have groups that have bought into the team approach. These organizations enabled their employees to have learnt the benefits of working smart, not working long. 

The companies that have struggled are those that have tried to shoehorn previous views of a typical workday into the remote worker. There will always be managers who believe that there is a magical window of productivity between 9-5, but as we move towards year two of the pandemic, remote workers have indicated that focusing on clear roles and responsibilities, while revisiting progress at regular intervals rather than micromanaging can inspire and motivate. As leaders we need to continue to build consensus amongst our teams as we move toward shared goals and accountability. Instead of focusing on a goal of productivity, managers need to focus goals on motivation, engagement, and improvement, where the natural result is increased productivity.

The key to success, post-pandemic, is going to rely on a flexible and clear plan to transition out of “survival” mode and into normalcy. This plan should incorporate the agile approach of continual learning. This is the time for honest reflection and critical thought. Was the status quo working? Does a 9 to 5, face to face environment contribute to increased productivity?

Change is a necessary element of improvement, and leaders need to have the courage to let go of past ‘truths’ in our business practices to make room for improvement. With critical thought and open minds, we can integrate the benefits of this forced remote work environment to create a new normal that is centered on motivation and engagement. The result will be a more resilient and productive company; one that is better prepared for whatever comes next.