This year, organisational culture has been the protagonist of transformation processes. Due to the pandemic, several industries have changed their way they work.
Technology, communication and collaboration spaces have gained importance as a result of social distancing. In this sense, leaders have had to reorganise their teams and bring them together to continue working and achieving objectives. This is a turning point that has had an impact on the organisational culture, that is, on the beliefs and behaviours that affect employee interactions. This culture cannot not be static any more, as it has to adapt to the needs of the organisation and the environment.
Redefining our behaviours also means redefining our safety protocols, internal policies and strategic priorities to deal with the crisis. At this point, flexibility needs to become more and more significant for work teams; this is achieved through trust and autonomy.
Protocols for Future Situations
According to Deloitte’s last human resources survey on epidemics responses, 82% of companies believe that “flexible work arrangements” are the most important means for employee management. For this reason, it is advisable to have flexible work mechanisms and vacation, and to use technologies that enable remote work, if possible, during long periods of time. In addition, it is necessary to implement a staff health monitoring system and to protect the confidentiality of this health information. The organisation must commit to ensuring the safety of the working environment by strictly cleaning and disinfecting workplaces and by providing employees with training on hygiene protocols.
Productive Teams
Not sharing the same working space is not an excuse to stop controlling time and productivity. Moreover, staying close to the team is necessary: provide them with emotional as well as technical support. Although technology is essential for maintaining a high-performance remote workforce, the way in which leaders create a mutual support culture is an important factor for the company’s culture and the experience of employees
