Risk frowned upon yesterday – today a forced measure – tomorrow a strategic success factor. Yes, this is remote work. Whether from the home office, think tank, co-working or the desert island. Many of us are now forced to work differently than before. Yes, we are isolated from our former live and behavior. Depending on which country there are only two of us, five of us or not at all outdoors anymore. Except for vital actions.
Abusiveness fear
The state of the global pandemic is only a few weeks old. Until then, there was a minority in favor of remote working. With a strong headwind from the vast majority. Skeptically and with many stereotypes, the desire for efficiency, flexibility and self-determination has been met.
Critical voices feared undisciplined working, lack of “supervision and control” of employees and thus abuse of trust. Was it the fear of the new? The unknown? The lack of ability to adapt to a working world that has been digitally on the move for several decades?
Now we are forced to rethink. The question of whether we would have been able to do so without these massive external influences is easy to answer and you all know it.
Create trust
The opportunity alone – and in this context we are talking about remote work – does not cause a breach of the Code of Conduct and the applicable compliance regulations.
As long as there is no motive and the justification does not defeat the dilemma situation of the decision-maker, there is no increased risk compared to the previously existing form of work of “on-site presence”.
In the current time of crisis, however, it is all the more important to strengthen in particular those employees who had not previously worked remotely. The changeover to a completely new form of work, sometimes completed within hours, requires time and familiarization.
In addition, the current situation of four generations active in working life demands the same thing: staying away from the workplace, setting oneself up and communicating with each other in a new way. Generation Z up to the generation of the baby boomers are involved, involved and affected by this work process and the massive change in working methods.
Solidarity also means being there for our employees, partners and customers when it comes to gaining a foothold in this new world of remote working and communication.
Remote work: strategic success factor
The risk of working remotely, which was still frowned upon yesterday, gains in brilliance with every hour. The advantages are seen, the willingness to learn is enormously high – from each individual in his or her own personal way. No one is crying out for a course that has to be completed first. “Learning by doing” is gaining popularity again. Just like when we used to romp around in front of our first computers and taught ourselves most things.
In the future, these newly acquired skills can be used to a great extent to design workplaces, processes and the well-being of employees. It will be important to include all perspectives – those of employers and employees.
This is how quickly a risk becomes a success factor! Is it because eyes are often closed and an “upside” does not want to be seen?!!? The Corona virus and the pandemic that accompanied it will go down in history. As well as the adaptability of our current world, the different governments and us as individuals.
I would like to encourage you to see and take advantage of the many opportunities – in addition to the many major challenges. To also pat yourself on the back when your beloved technology finally does what it promises and you hold your video conferences.
What will we learn and save into the “new normal” after the pandemic? Is it remote work? In my case, the first trends are already emerging and I am curious to see how they will develop further.
What is your situation?
Yours,
Sonja Stirnimann
