While we saw many businesses make changes to their organizations to protect their cash flow through the pandemic, we’re now feeling the effects of first-time remote workplaces and it’s time to crown a new king: communication.
Although some had already mastered the digital workplace, the concept is new for many companies who had to quickly adapt for the health and safety of their teams.
As we begin to see the world open up slowly, we’re shining a light on the future of work. A study by Expert Market reveals that 82% of companies in Europe and North America expect employees to request remote working after returning to the office. We’re also seeing a wave of turnover as employees make decisions that best fit their new normal. The Femails Podcast shares that 40% of employees are ready to quit their jobs NOW.
The reasons?
- They do not want to return to the office
- They have saved enough money over the last year to allow career exploration
- They feel underappreciated
- They are unimpressed with how their organization handled (is handling) the pandemic
So where does communication fit into culture repair (or strategy)?
Strong, consistent communication accounts for a 20-25% increase in employee productivity with 97% of workers believing that communication impacts tasks every day and 85% of employees reporting they are most motivated when internal communications are effective. These are BIG numbers, friends!
This isn’t referring to sharing the company values or goals at a single company kick off meeting; this means daily stand-ups within small teams, regular check-ins across teams, and celebrating the progress you’re making as an organization.
Seth Godin says it best, everyone wants to be part of something.
Time spent on a future of work strategy is important. Time spent on creating a workplace culture is important. Prioritizing the employee experience is important.
We’ll leave you with this: Miscommunication costs companies with 100 employees an average of $420,000 per year. How will you prioritize communication?