Adapting to the Evolving World of Work
Kate Birnbryer White | 11-12-2023
The highly successful 2023 WorkLife Office conference explored the evolving world of work focusing on how leaders can adapt to succeed. Keynote speaker Frederick P. Morgeson, Ph.D., Eli Broad Professor of Management at MSU, described how leadership matters more than ever in the post-pandemic era. Morgeson challenged the audience of over 120 to consider their leadership style and adapt to the contemporary needs and expectations of today’s workforce. Key to this adaptation is avoiding power struggles and an “old school” leadership mentality.
Morgeson shared data on changes in productivity and employee satisfaction with remote and hybrid work. Research indicates that employers and employees view remote/hybrid and in-person work in radically different ways. Employers tend to be familiar with in-person work and are most comfortable with onsite work; some suspect that remote workers are less productive. Employees, especially since the pandemic, often prefer remote or hybrid work. Some compelling statistics cited in the keynote show benefits of remote and hybrid work:
- Hybrid work reduces attrition by 35% and increased productivity by 8%.
- Remote workers were 9% more effective than in person workers in 2021.
- Workers indicate that their ability to focus increases by 53% when working remotely.
While some employers fear that it is impossible to build teams or a strong workplace culture within a remote or hybrid environment, Morgeson argues that it can be done, but it just requires different approaches. “The results are clear. There are real benefits to remote and hybrid work,” said Morgeson. Learning to build workplace culture for in person and for remote or hybrid employees are important skills for leaders to acquire because less than 50% of workers will return to the office full time. “Things are not going back to the way it was,” concludes Morgeson.
A recording of Professor Morgeson’s entire keynote is available shortly through the WorkLife Office. A few takeaways to ponder in the meantime:
- The best people are valuable and rare. They are the ones we can’t afford to lose.
- Training is essential. A sink or swim mentality no longer works.
- Limiting autonomy limits positive outcomes.
- Hoarding information leads to worry and discontent.
- Avoid needless competition.
- Appreciate your people.
Look for upcoming articles about the breakout sessions from the conference on Creating Community in a Hybrid World, Attracting and Retaining Values Based Employees, and Workplace Wellbeing.
