The Future of Work: What will good feel like?
2 out of 10 end states to aim for
Right now, companies have an opportunity to reset the way they work. Leaders can reboot workplaces with a fresh focus on culture, purpose, diversity and empathy. If we get it right, the next few years will be remarkable. If we fail, it’s the greatest lost opportunity in a generation
The forced experiment of mass remote working has been a chance to transform not only where but also how work gets done.
Many companies have changed for the better during the pandemic, and people are energised to see large organisations acting like startups: putting purpose front and centre, having an attitude of progress over perfection, and innovating with the consumer in mind. The switch to a virtual environment has inspired leaders to rethink how work gets done.
At Magnetic, we’ve been thinking and experimenting around the future of work for some time. We work in small cross-functional autonomous teams. We help big companies bring their purpose to life. We involve customers and users at every stage in the design process. And we help companies work — and change — at pace, as fast as the environment is changing around them.
What’s the end state? We’ve identified ten big themes that we’ve seen in the most successful organisations we’ve worked with, or have admired from afar. Nobody gets everything right, this is a checklist of powerful medium-term goals and we’re revealing them 2 at a time in a series of articles.
This workplace of the future is already here, but it’s unevenly distributed. When we look at companies that are thriving, these are the conditions we see.
1. Hybrid working that really works
The challenge for leaders is balancing people’s working styles, different needs and newfound sense of choice with what’s right for the business. Approaches range from blind optimism to accelerated tech innovations — such as cameras embedded into computer screens so that you can make eye contact — but the real work is cultural. There has been a mindset shift away from presenteeism, but status quo bias — where people revert back to previously established and familiar behaviours — is an obstacle.
“I like working from home as it gives me time to think. Downtime is so important.”
Lorraine Landels, Director of Strategic Relationships, Buro Happold
We’ve been helping a global FMCG company to be more deliberate about its working practices. Teams are building frameworks to help them make decisions about where and how they work. They’re learning how to turn down unnecessary meetings and calls. Saying no can be a superpower.
54% of employees who would change jobs for one that gave them more flexibility
True hybrid working values outputs over hours, for better engagement and work-life balance. No one is sidelined because of where they work, or overlooked for promotion. Difficult questions are considered, such as whether hybrid should also mean flexible hours, and whether salaries are based solely on skills and output or consider location and travel costs. And hybrid meetings aren’t awkward.
2. A shared company story that makes sense to everyone
Working in a company is a bit like watching a really long TV series. When it’s good, everyone knows what’s going on, why it’s happening, and where we’re going. When it’s not, it feels like you started watching Lost halfway though the second series.
In 2020, half of HR and business leaders ranked employee experience as their no.1 initiative.
It’s on their minds more than ever now. At Magnetic we’ve worked on fascinating team engagement projects with organisations as diverse as JUST, National Grid, PATRIZIA and Highways England.
People need purpose, choice, and the right tools and knowledge. They have to understand and believe in the purpose of the business as well as their individual purpose, the impact they’re making, and the role they have in achieving business goals.
Having access to collective knowledge and the tools and information they need allows them to do their best work. Successful businesses spend time and money supporting staff to develop new skills. A motivated and engaged workforce unites the organisation and unlocks the full potential of employees.
This is an excerpt from our latest book Now for the tricky bit; it’s all about building stronger, happier businesses with purpose. Click here to request your copy now!
Magnetic is a design and innovation company that helps design better futures. We’ve worked with global businesses to build capabilities, products, services and transform organisations. To find out more, get in touch: hello@wearemagnetic.com.
