Work is changing. Don’t get left behind.
Leadership

Work is changing. Don’t get left behind.

The world is changing, and so is the workplace 🌍 👔  From witnessing The Great Resignation, it is clear that now, more than ever, employees are seeking more from their jobs and the world of work is changing. Employers may be quick to assume a pay rise is the antidote.  However, in 2022, money is […]

October 1st, 2022
*

Abby.

Founder

A search expert making key hires for over twenty years.

The world is changing, and so is the workplace 🌍 👔 

From witnessing The Great Resignation, it is clear that now, more than ever, employees are seeking more from their jobs and the world of work is changing.

Employers may be quick to assume a pay rise is the antidote. 

However, in 2022, money is not enough.  

A recent report from McKinsey tells us that today, leaders must learn to adapt and evolve if they want to retain their key people and attract new ones.

 

So, how can you keep your employees happy and motivated in today’s workplace? 💼 

 

Let’s look beneath the surface 

Employers may assume that employees will only leave for salary or work-life balance related reasons. Although these are true, there is always more going on. 

Now, more than ever, employees are asking lots of questions: 💬 

  •  Am I part of a team that I like to work with? 
  •  Do I have a level of flexibility I need within my role? 
  •  Are there career growth opportunities for me? 
  • Do I have a sense of belonging within my organisation? 

 

You are human, and so are your employees 👩 

They appreciate being heard, respected, and valued, and the pandemic has only further emphasised the importance of job satisfaction. 

In 2022, more care and attention need to be put into nurturing employee wellbeing. And we are not just talking about online yoga classes.  

 

Step away from the old way and reinvent 

As we know it, the Industrial Revolution was the transition from field to factory 🌳➡️🏭 

It introduced an ‘economic exchange’ system where workers were paid a set salary to do what was asked of them – creating a purely transactional arrangement. Initially, this looked like a 140-hour, 7-day working week. However, productivity was poor, and workers rebelled 🚫

So instead, a 5-day, 40-hour working week was introduced – known today as our 9 to 5 🕘 

Pre pandemic, most of us would associate work with going into an office, 5 days a week, 8 hours a day. 

 

From this, we may ask ourselves:  

 

 “Why don’t we just revert to the pre-pandemic working week once COVID is under control?”

 

But, once we pause and stop to think, we would realise that this would mean returning to a working week originating from the 18th century. 

 

 Why would we automatically revert to a working week more than 200 years old?

 

The pandemic prompted us to re-evaluate the world of work, and more changes are on the horizon. A “new normal” is emerging – employees want more hybrid or remote working opportunities and are seeking more from their company and role. 

Employees increasingly want to know: 

  •  Who is the company? 
  • What do they stand for? 
  • What is their culture like? 
  • What are their people like? 

 

Employees also want to ensure they will have a good work-life balance. They want to know that their organisation will fully support this and take the action needed for this to happen.  

Only addressing employees’ salaries will not address any of these questions.  

 

Yes, a competitive salary is still important, but in 2022, it is simply not enough. 

 

3 small steps for leaders to take 

To respond to employees’ wants and needs to keep them happy in the changing world of work, adaptation will be a key skill for leaders leading in 2022 and beyond.

1) Look at your company’s exit patterns. Why are people leaving? 🚶 

Unrealistic workload? Poor management? Lack of opportunity for career growth?  

2) Take the time to identify trends.

Use this insight to start to think about how you could change. This is where adaptability comes in – it’s time to start being open to different or new ways of working. 

Could your employees work four days a week? Could you even offer job sharing?

Could employees be given more remote working opportunities? 

3) The solution is always often closer than you think.

Speak to your teams and use your 121’s to find out more. Listen, look for blockers, ask for ideas, be open, be flexible, and start adapting. 

 

At the end of the day, seeing work output you are happy with is what’s key 🔑 – it’s about the quality of work your employees do rather than the time spent at their desks  

If employees can reach these work targets in ways that keep them happier, why would you not consider using these instead? 

 

As well as adapting to your employee’s needs, ask yourself: how often do you check in with your employees? – do you know how they really feel? Employees don’t want to feel like part of a transaction. They want to feel like they have a sense of purpose and identity within your business. 

Making a point of checking in with your employees will enable you to use this to tailor their experience at your company and actively accommodate to their needs. 

 

By taking the time to understand and adapt to their employee’s needs in 2022 and beyond, leaders can have more confidence in retaining the people that make their business a success. 

 

“To win in the market place, you must first win in the workplace” 

 – Doug Conant

 

To find out more about how to focus on your brand, get in touch today.
Want to hear about our other articles?
Looking to hire your next superstar?
Keen to explore our latest vacancies?
Yellow Bricks is a female-owned and led executive search firm hiring predominately for software companies with diversity and inclusion at the heart of our offering. To learn more, click here.
Related posts
How the Metaverse will change the Future of Work

How the Metaverse will change the Future of Work

Photo: Microsoft   Bill Gates predicts that within two or three years, virtual meetings will be taking place within the Metaverse. It is clear that changes to how we play, socialise, and work are coming sooner than we think 🎮 💬 💼 With the next decade heavily focused on its development, how will the Metaverse […]
Morning Habits for Success and Why They Work

Morning Habits for Success and Why They Work

What does your morning routine look like? 🌤️ We hear all the time that forming healthy habits in the morning is the key to starting off our day right. But why is that so? We discuss the most helpful morning habits for success and why they work.   Morning Habits for Success #1 – Ditch […]
How Should Employers Respond To Strikes?

How Should Employers Respond To Strikes?

Travel disruption is expected in the next few weeks. Train strikes are due for the end of July and middle of August due to rows over jobs, conditions, and pay. In the August strikes alone, 40,000 workers across Network Rail are expected to walk out. With trains being a popular mode of transport for workers, […]
9 Tips to Crafting a Magnetic CV in 2024

9 Tips to Crafting a Magnetic CV in 2024

Are you tirelessly sending out CVs, only to hear silence in return?   Cracking the CV code is getting harder!   What should a CV look like in 2024?   With the barrier to entry ever widening through complicated platforms, AI, and a lack of human interaction, it has become frustrating and confidence-wrecking to attempt […]
8 Steps to Getting Your Career Back on Track

8 Steps to Getting Your Career Back on Track

We know that a lot of the jobs we like the look of online are over applied to, probably phoney, in reality unsuitable, or were filled months ago with no one bothering to take them down.     In some sectors, the hiring markets are weaker than they have been in decades. Trying to navigate […]
Leading Alongside AI: 4 Essential Skills Leaders Need

Leading Alongside AI: 4 Essential Skills Leaders Need

As we enter a new era of innovation and technological advancement. AI is becoming an increasingly important part of the business landscape – including in leadership. A 2022 survey saw 92% of large companies say that they have already announced plans to invest more into AI.   AI is here to stay, and it is […]
Returning to the office – should employers be marching their employees back? 

Returning to the office – should employers be marching their employees back? 

Returning to the office? Just a few years ago, it was a luxury to work from home. A lot of bosses were sceptical, and employees faced a losing battle to get more than a few days working from home. But, since the arrival of Covid-19, it has become the standard way of working for desk-based […]
8 Habits That Will Make You a Better Leader

8 Habits That Will Make You a Better Leader

It’s the start of a shiny new year ✨   Your people will be looking to you for guidance and reassurance as we enter more uncertain times.   Building strong foundations by adopting helpful habits will help you to be the best leader you can be.   Here are our top 8 habits that will […]
8 hacks to attract the best talent in 2024

8 hacks to attract the best talent in 2024

Our product is people, which means that we have to evolve constantly.   Staying adaptable and open to change is crucial to navigating the complexities of finding and attracting exceptional talent.   One thing we stand by is that people MUST be treated as people; if you want to attract the best, it takes dedication, […]
7 Ways to Communicate Better

7 Ways to Communicate Better

Are you a leader?   According to a Gallup survey, 70% of employee engagement is tied to the quality of communication from leadership. Communication is vital for driving organisational success. Whether you’re leading in a hybrid, remote, or full-time office environment, honing your communication skills is key to fostering engagement and collaboration. To help you […]

Join 2,500+ forward-thinking leaders.

People. Culture. Growth.
Unlock your leadership potential with our biweekly newsletter. No spam, only gold.