In post-pandemic work outlook conscious connections are vital!

We are living a historic moment; the pandemic has accelerated the 4th Industrial Revolution, intensified digitalization, and exposed the workforce needs to develop the skills they’ll need to reduce risk, drive growth, and innovate amidst disruption for the future of work.

The world of work has changed, hundreds of millions around the world have lived and worked through lockdowns. For most of the European market, working from home had never been implemented in the companies and with the spread of covid-19, many were abruptly forced to telework in an uncertain environment. Since all of this started remote work has been normalized, even many companies have implemented a hybrid way of working. But how will this change affect the way we communicate, connect, and create?

A strong communication culture starts at the top

Strong communication skills do not appear in isolation; they must be fostered at every level of an organization. From making sure that the company messaging is clear and honest, to asking team members to define how they communicate best.

Clearly, technology has made communication easier than ever before. When something comes up, we can pick up the phone, shoot off a text, or send a quick email. Nevertheless, communication for the sake of building interpersonal connections has become much more difficult.

For companies to meet their organizational goals and employees to achieve their personal ones, teams must be communicating regularly, effectively, and openly. This helps companies build stronger, more trusting relationships where even the most difficult topics — like delivering feedback or discussing personal growth — are easy to approach.

Managers and employees should make conscious connections

So, how can you develop your company’s communication skills at every level? A strong communication culture starts at the top, managers and employees should make conscious connections. This will require a mutual proactivity, both are responsible for pursuing a meeting and work together to decide on a specific time and place, prepare the topics of discussion and observations about their work life or career trajectory.

Conscious connections are more effective but can be difficult to prioritize. Employees and employers should work together to reevaluate their schedules (and skip relatively unimportant meetings or miscellaneous tasks that aren’t time-sensitive) to make time for conscious connections.

Employees are responsible for communicating their needs

Communication styles vary greatly from person to person, while some people thrive in “directive” environments where they’re told what to do, others do better in “requestive” environments, where managers ask questions to get employees thinking of the best solutions, instead of handing them the best path forward. Some people need time to prepare for a conversation, while others like to have off-the-cuff discussions. For managers, being aware of these preferences can help ensure their teams are effective.

But the only way for a manager to learn and respond to these preferences is for employees to speak openly and honestly — not only with managers but also with co-workers. The better individuals can communicate about themselves and their preferences, the more the group can operate with empathy and understanding — making collaboration and problem-solving much easier and more effective.

Want to know more about how you can build your skills for the future of work? Download Cornerstone eBook here!