055: Redefining Workplace Practices Post COVID-19

Digital Enterprise Society is the authority on the transformation to a digital enterprise, impacting all areas of an organization. Tune in for discussions among industry leaders about operations and action needed to drive digitization principles forward for the future of product development and life cycles.    In today’s episode, Thom Singer welcomes communication coach and TEDX speaker Joe Hirsch to discuss what the transition from remote management to in-person teamwork after over 3 months of quarantine. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to reconsider the conventional way that we source ideas, hold our meetings, and share feedback.  Today’s episode focuses on the tactics that leaders can employ to help their team’s productivity and creativity continue to rise when the reopening unfolds with more force.  He shares ideas for conducting meetings and group interactions in a way that will result in better teamwork and better results, minimizing chaos in the return, and rethinking the importance of employee flexibility work arrangements as we all return to the workplace.     On today’s podcast, you will learn:   Sourcing ideas more effectively Traditional brainstorming practices do more to suppress ideas than activate them Brainwriting allows a team to develop ideas at the same time without employing group think or production blockages A partnership approach provides a way to tap into the best ideas of the group    Holding more reflective meetings Leaders need to focus on the how of meetings over the who or what of the details Introduce opportunities for reflection on solutions in meetings, rather than demanding immediate conversations Try standing around the table and walk around the meeting room rather than staying sedentary in chairs Better meetings will result in higher quality ideas and a culture of listening, respect, patience, and humility   Minimizing chaos in the return Take this COVID-19 induced opportunity to tap into the full value of every team member and to rethink every traditional workplace practice and procedure Be transparent about your intention to reevaluate and improve upon standard practices Seek feedback from team members to help craft a new vision Even if you’re not a decision-maker, you can still be a leader by your actions   The future of working from home Flexible work arrangements are going to become top priority for employment Identify what you are willing and able to do from home and lobby for those arrangements  It will be essential to demonstrate a certain level of competence and confidence in your ability to work from home Define clear objectives that will create the conditions of productive, happy work environments Be humble and stay curious about the things that you don’t already know regarding the future of how work is performed   Do you have an example of extraordinary efforts or innovation during these unprecedented times? We would love to hear your story and possibly interview you for an upcoming episode. Please reach out to us at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org   Joe Hirsch The Language of Leaders