However, as business leaders are well aware, waiting for the storm to pass is no substitute for steadying the ship; small, incremental steps toward stability can go a long way.
We look at three major issues that businesses face, as well as quick and easy solutions.
Keeping morale high
Maintaining morale is a challenge for everyone – living and working through a global pandemic feels like an endless waiting game and an impossible balancing act, so it's only natural that our resilience muscles are being tested.
Focusing on the small victories in front of you is one way to boost your team's (and your own) morale. The psychology of taking things one day at a time is sound. Intentionally focusing on short-term success is bound to boost motivation, but dismissing it in the pursuit of something bigger is bound to deplete morale.
Encourage your team to focus on what they have control over, what they've accomplished today – even if it's as simple as collaborating on an idea, optimising something, or making someone smile.
Managing Distributed Teams
Though it is extremely difficult to completely replicate the value of an office environment in the virtual world, there are a number of quick wins you can implement for teams that are still working from home.
Start by defining – and respecting – work-life boundaries when managing remote teams. When work ends in the same place that life begins, there is a risk that remote work will mean more work, and the extent of this will be influenced by your employees' working styles. Some direct reports will not feel obligated to respond to an email they receive at 9 p.m., but others may. Determine everyone's coworking space styles, and be aware that people-pleasers will find it difficult to say no.
Next, make sure you're including conversations about professional development. Remote environments can become clouded by day-to-day drudgery, and remote workers, crucially, miss out on learning that occurs in the office through chance encounters and unplanned brainstorming sessions. Set aside some time to think about the big picture and actively cultivate your employees' skill sets.
Finally, try to replicate in-person environments as much as possible, whether that's by setting up a group chat for quick questions you'd normally ask the person next to you, or by having those important 'water-cooler' conversations that help to maintain company culture.
Navigating the Office Space World
The office has undergone one of the most disruptive shifts in recent history, but the novelty of working from home five days a week has worn off, contrary to the 'death of the office' debate that raged earlier this year.
In fact, according to an Evening Standard poll, 80 percent of respondents "missed interacting with colleagues," while a Knight Frank poll of 727 employees discovered that 40 percent have had their mental health negatively impacted by working from home.
Almost every company is dealing with shifting office needs. Some are downsizing due to shrinking headcounts or Rota schedules, while others are expanding to accommodate social distancing, but flexibility is a requirement shared by all.
As a result, post-lockdown demand for flexible office space is expected to increase. Flexible office space allows you to move right into a Covid-secure office, easily increase or decrease the amount of space you've signed up for, budget accordingly with an all-inclusive cost, potentially allow your employees to use multiple office locations, and remain flexible with a monthly rolling contract.
Contact TheWing.pk Team to discuss downsizing, upsizing, or any other flexible office space requirements.
