Welcome to 2022! As companies plan for the upcoming year and discuss goal-setting and priorities, you may hear the following: “the new normal…unprecedented times…trying circumstances.” Chances are, you never want to hear these phrases again. Neither do we. If the pandemic has taught us anything: it’s that change is constant, and we must learn to navigate it. People and businesses everywhere have spent the last two years reacting to change, but it’s time to stop letting that change knock us off our feet. As the initial shock of the pandemic wears off, companies need to think about what work looks like now, and how to make the most of it.

Expect The Unexpected: Cultural Transformation

Despite many employers’ hopes, it looks like things won’t be going back to normal anytime soon. And, given the current trends in the labor market - think The Great Resignation - pre-pandemic work structures are likely to become fragments of the past. Traditional contingency plans might work for short-term disruption, but they do not provide a long-term roadmap for navigating ongoing change. Beyond process changes, businesses must adapt their organizational cultures to keep up with the times.

Strong cultures - rooted in connection, care and belonging - can help businesses thrive during periods of uncertainty. Organizations must be intentional about the culture they want to create and maintain. Especially when employees are dispersed, it’s important to approach culture-building in a structured way. This means, organizing extra check-ins, over-communicating about changes, and making sure everyone feels comfortable in their current positions and has the right tools to seek support where needed. Employees must be able to anticipate change, and not shy away from it. Creativity and innovation only comes when people feel safe enough to try new things and think outside of the box.

Reinvent What Was Lost: Hybrid Work Done Right

Hybrid work models bring on a host of advantages: less commuting, more flexibility, improved work life balance - the list goes on. Sounds like the great panacea for all of today’s problems, right? Not so fast. Many of these so-called “perks” are only beneficial in the short-term. In the long-run, you may be missing out on many of the benefits that come with being all together in an office. In addition to a lower sense of belonging, you could be missing out on water cooler conversations, learning by shadowing other co-workers, and casual connections with peers.

To achieve sustainable productivity, it’s always been crucial to have the right organizational design, processes and tools. However, as teams become more dispersed, companies need to think about the right technology to keep employees engaged, connected and supported. With loneliness and disengagement at all time highs, it’s more important (and more urgent) than ever to promote a sense of belonging and recreate some of what was lost when we left the office. Studies show that the best hybrid work environments are those that promote social connection. Fulfilling relationships are the key to maintaining a positive culture for all and enforcing a sense of shared-purpose that will benefit your people and your bottom line. And that’s what MixR is all about.

In 2022, the only certainty we have is uncertainty. While this might sound daunting, sometimes the most turbulent times can bring out the best in people - individually and collectively. Organizations that seize the moment and instill this thinking across their workforce will be best positioned to succeed in the long-run. Creating exceptional cultures will be the winning talent strategy of the future. MixR can help you get there.

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