The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of new technologies and resources that have transformed the workplace for good. While there was once a focus on working from home, the demand has evolved into the need to work from anywhere and anytime (WFAA).
This transition has left many thinking that the office is no longer a necessity to a distributed workforce. However, many companies adopting the WFAA model are operating with a hybrid work arrangement, allowing people more choices on where and when they work.
Technology and culture are both key to the success of a remote workforce. If workers feel supported by their company’s leadership and infrastructure, they are able to accomplish their best work.
Another shift in traditional workplace structures is the idea of hierarchical leadership. Now, networked leadership will be essential in keeping employees engaged and connected, even when they are working in different time zones.
Additionally, productivity measurements will no longer be quantitative, but qualitative. Leaders will need to learn how to divert from micromanaging tendencies when guiding a remote workforce and understand that the number of hours a worker spends at their desk will matter less than the quality of the work they produce.
Instilling this sort of trust in employees leads to great benefits for a company. Research has indicated that workers who feel trusted by their employers are often happier in their positions, which means they are bound to perform better.
