The world of work is seeing significant change which requires a different skillset in our managers
Here in Dorset we are so fortunate to live and work by the sea. Taking a walk along the coast one day it struck me that the sea is a metaphor for change and represents what is happening now in the world of work, explains Graham Stickland, Director at Contact Consulting.
Like the tides of the sea, change in organisations is constant, ebbing and flowing throughout our working lives. Some days it is calm and tranquil with very little change. Other days it is rough and choppy with wave after wave hitting us, knocking us sideways before we have had time to recover from the first one, making us feel like we are drowning in the sea of change.
Unlike the theory, change is never a straight line or curve with a defined start and end, things are always moving and adapting. The last couple of years have brought a tidal wave of change – the beginning of a new era for our relationship with and experience of work. People are reconsidering why, how and where they work. This questioning extends to the expectations people have of their organisations, their managers and their learning and development. Here at Contact Consulting we are noticing there are 4 big changes taking place in organisations –
- The beginning of the end of the hierarchical mindset and its individualistic, top-down style towards more transversal, collaborative networks
- The role of the manager away from knowing best and having the answers to coaching and enabling
- Organisation centric to more employee centric ways of working that put employees’ needs at the heart of their work and encourage ownership and accountability
- The focus on social and environmental wellbeing and sustainability as drivers of discretionary effort more than traditional performance management with a focus on KPIs and targets
We are working with a number of clients helping managers adapt their roles and skills to successfully navigate these changes. For example, developing the skills to ask open coaching questions rather than a top down ‘tell’ encourages input and contribution. This can aid problem solving and innovation which are proven to improve engagement and business performance.
Some may welcome these developments or fear the potential loss of what is familiar. One thing is for certain, we can’t stop the inevitable tides of change but we can learn to navigate towards calmer waters.
As Jon Kabat-Zinn said
You can’t stop the waves …….but you can learn to surf
www.contactconsultinguk.com