A looming wave of change bigger than any other is coming for business — and it’s bigger, faster and more complex than anything we’ve seen before.
It’s not just about adjusting to a “new normal,” reducing a real estate footprint or phased re-opening of facilities in the wake of a global pandemic. It’s about transforming how employees work, think and behave in ways that protect people and business from risk, and drive performance.
Think about it. The first wave of change forced us to address a global pandemic. We quickly shuttered operations to protect employees and customers as Covid-19 spread, and found ways of creating some measure of continuity. Check.
Our second wave is about planning for, and executing, re-opening. Depending on whose estimate we believe, anywhere from 25-40% of employees working from an office before the pandemic will not return — at least full time — to an office. Ever. We’re creating hybrid solutions for employees working from many more locations longer term, examining policies and planning for issues that range from real estate contraction to digital collaboration. Check again.
But there is a looming Third Wave that is much bigger and more complex than any other in our lifetime. This Third Wave — one of cultural transformation — has speed and power behind it unlike any wave that has preceded it. The global quest for racial equality – Black Lives Matter — is driving every organization on the planet to take meaningful action at a time when they are literally and physically less tied together than at any point in modern history.
It’s about diversity and inclusion, yes, but it’s also equity. How can organizations drive new cultural norms with workforces that increasingly are not located together? How can employees who don’t have a choice to work from home feel they are equal to those who have the “luxury” of that choice?
But wait, there’s more. Behind the long- term solutions for Covid-19 and racial justice are other fundamental questions for business that are screaming for attention. How do companies drive behaviors, instill cultural norms, support employee brand ambassadors, and ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements in this new world?
Answers to all of these questions will take the shape of new strategies for driving culture, new leadership behaviors, new communication channels for employees, and new tools. And it starts with taking a hard look at how we’re prepared for The Third Wave. If you want to start, click here for a simple self-assessment. Every business has a choice when faced with a big, powerful, fast wave of change: feel its crushing power, or ride it like a boss. Those who choose to ride it inevitably come out on top.
Want to learn more? Join us on Wednesday, July 1st, from 9:00am – 10:00am PT / noon ET. We’re launching this exciting new initiative via a webinar featuring several Consultants Collective executive consultants, advisors and coaches. Register here.
