Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from here
There has always been talk of the industry shifting to a remote or virtual workplace, but never would we have imagined that a global pandemic as that of COVID-19 would be the cause of this expedited shift. By now, those who are fortunate enough to be able to work from home have been instructed to do so and we are immensely grateful for the healthcare professionals and essential workers of the city that continue to serve in this uncertain time. Work operations have had to change overnight and now more than ever we need to embrace this change in order to serve the needs of staff and clients in this difficult time.
All this has led to one burning question -
What makes an agile workforce?
According to BreatheHR these are the 8 characteristics that define an agile workforce:
Goal-driven: Organizations that embrace agile working successfully are clear about why they are doing it and the benefits that come with it.
Embracing new technology: Think of VoiP systems, cloud-based asset management or VPNs; apps like Slack and Zoom are great examples of this and have been heavily used to communicate between staff members, students, teachers, and loved ones during this time.
Flexibility: In an agile culture, the term 'flexible working' is thought of as a more radical change in work practices. This includes making the most of the freedom that new technologies make possible to maximize efficiency and ensure that everyone remains productive.
Dedicated to a culture of trust and learning: Agile working relies on collaboration and trust between your team members especially since managers are not able to directly supervise or walk up to a teammates desk to ask a question.
Creativity: Innovation in this day and age is paramount – agile companies are able to embrace creativity and produce innovative solutions to problems.
Performance-driven: Agile workers can largely choose when they work and where they work from; the priority here is to achieve optimal results for your business, not to work set hours in a specific location.
Good at managing change: As the famous saying goes, the only thing constant is change. As an agile workforce, we need to create a culture that supports change and welcomes new ways of operating. Being set on old or traditional ways will hinder the company's ability to move forward.
Data-compliant: With the conversation on data constantly on the back of everyone’s mind, it is vital that you consider who should access secure data and take the necessary steps and precautions to make sure this is done correctly.
What next?
To those who can, practice social distancing, fact-check your sources and remember to be kind and patient with those around you – whether it’s your roommate, your family, or local deliveryman. We are all in this together.
Comments