As an employee, what steps are you taking to prepare for the future of work? What are your expectations about work in the future?
Based on the conversations I’ve been having, there remains a great deal of uncertainty about if, when, and how employees will return to work. Some anticipate a ramp-up from part-time to full-time work, with a hybrid mix of remote and in-person time. With a lack of communication between leaders, managers, and employees, it’s not uncommon for tensions to grow. Add to that a resistance to relinquish telecommuting and/or receive a vaccination, employees may limit their career options. Instead, employees can prepare for the future of work by focusing on their performance, expanding skills, and effective, positive communication.
Employee Tips for the Future of Work
Here are a few tips for employees who are working remotely:
- Consider returning to the office for work one day/week. If you work with a team, consider how you might share one office, rotating your time, to reduce real estate costs. Alternatively, or in addition, you might coordinate your time so you are all together, post vaccination.
- Prepare for face-to-face meetings. Plan 25% of your meetings (with colleagues or clients) to be in-person, once we reach herd immunity.
- Be proactive in your own goal setting and tracking. Share your intentions and results with your manager.
- Expand your knowledge and skills. There is, and will be, a growing need for workers who can create, deploy, and maintain new technologies, as well as social and emotional skills. Participate in training, and share your experience and accomplishments with your manager.
- Be flexible and open to new ideas, opportunities, and reassignment within your organization. McKinsey research finds that a markedly different mix of occupations may emerge post-Covid. Job growth is most likely in healthcare, STEM, warehousing, and transportation.
- Stay positive. Agility and collaboration can lead to greater productivity, career growth, and upward mobility. Consider working with a trusted mentor or coach; let me know how I can help.
What do you think? What are you doing to prepare for the future of work? I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me here, on LinkedIn, or give me a call: 561-582-6060.
