The new reality has been here for quite some time now and let me tell you that it’s not going anywhere. Newsflash!! It’s here to stay. What does that mean? It means we either hop on board and figure out how to adapt and navigate, or we stay stuck in the old ways and fall behind, losing top employees along the way.
As leaders, it’s vital that you put a heavy focus on your culture, listening and adapting to what your employees want and need. You might not see and understand the benefits at first but let me tell you that you will quickly see how costly it is to ignore your culture. Let me walk you through how to adapt and embrace the new reality, starting with your culture.
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Connection
Workplaces are shifting from employees being in the office full-time to some employees being hybrid, some being fully remote, and some still preferring to be in the office full-time. This makes it increasingly difficult to foster work relationships, with employees increasingly feeling disconnected from colleagues.
Communication between leaders and teams needs to be more intentional and genuine than ever before. Instead of using reviews and meetings to discuss work-related topics and performance, utilize them to deepen connections and build upon relationships.
How to become more connected:
- Team happy hours
- Spontaneous check-ins
- Collaboration sessions (even if virtual)
- Incentivizing employees going above and beyond with colleagues
Trust
Trust, especially these days, holds so much weight in the workplace. The amount of trust present can make or break an employee’s entire experience at work. Leaders are expected to keep employees safe, provide necessary resources, guide in development, and promote a culture where employees feel valued. This can only be done if there is trust present. If it’s absent, there will be very negative reactions.
The two aspects that will elevate trust with almost no extra effort is 1) listening and 2) responding. Not only, listening and responding, but doing so the right way. Use active listening with your employees, seeking and understanding their experiences and concerns. Once you’ve listened to your employees, be prepared to act. This shows you genuinely care and are prepared to shift the culture to improve employee experience.
How to build trust with employees:
- Communicate frequently and genuinely
- Maintain transparency
- Address uncomfortable topics
- Empower employees to have honest conversations
Well-being
Employees are no longer satisfied with solely a good salary. They demand and expect more from organizations; benefits that go above and beyond, opportunities for development and advancement, mental health support, etcetera. Employees are suffering from anxiety, frustration, self-doubt, and stress. Monitor the well-being of your employees, providing help and resources as needed.
We spend much of our time working, so it’s natural that many people place heavy weight on their self-worth and identity regarding their work. Help make it an enjoyable experience for employees, focusing on their well-being.
How to improve well-being:
- Be aware and support employees when they need it
- Acknowledge employees for their efforts and accomplishments, publicly and privately
- Set time for the team to celebrate group wins
- Encourage open and honest feedback
At the end of the day, just be a good person and care for your people. Do what’s best for your people, while also furthering the culture and results of your organization.
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More on this topic: https://www.cultureamp.com/blog/maintain-company-culture
