Weekly Insights: Hybrid Work Arrangements, Burnout Epidemic, and the Demand for Change - Key Points from Reimagining the Norm
In the past 18 months, the world of work has undergone a significant transformation. To help businesses and organizations navigate these uncertain times, a study titled "Resetting Normal: Defining the New Era of Work" was commissioned. The second edition of this study, now available for download, offers valuable insights into the changing expectations in the workforce.
The study highlights several key considerations for companies adopting flexible working models. Clarifying roles and responsibilities, defining decision-making processes, establishing team norms and expectations, and tailoring ways of working are critical during transitions to flexible work. Clear communication about deliverables, transparency about decision-making, setting clear expectations, revisiting the team’s operating system, and adapting to the new environment are all essential for maintaining productivity and coordination.
In addition to these practical considerations, the study emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with the workforce. Leaders should transparently discuss current challenges, set a forward-looking tone, reaffirm team purpose, and renegotiate team operating systems to build trust, coordination, and motivation. Encouraging timely, relevant, and constructive feedback—both top-down and bottom-up—can also boost employee initiative and collaboration.
The role of mental health in the future of work is another significant finding of the study. While the study does not directly quote findings regarding mental health, the emphasis on clarity, trust, and purpose in team realignment implies the importance of supporting employee well-being to maintain motivation and productivity. Current trends in work suggest that mental health will be a growing factor in flexible work models, requiring companies to be proactive in creating supportive environments.
Flexible work strategies that reduce meeting overload and respect work-life boundaries may also contribute to better mental health outcomes. The study indirectly notes best practices for meetings and collaboration norms that promote a balance between work and personal life.
In conclusion, the study suggests that successful adoption of flexible work depends not just on where and when people work but on clear communication, shared purpose, intentional collaboration structures, and supporting employee well-being, including mental health. These elements form the foundation for reconnecting a demotivated or disengaged workforce in a rapidly evolving work landscape.
The second edition of "Resetting Normal" study was conducted across 25 countries, with nearly 15,000 knowledge-workers surveyed. The study was conducted across eight markets to investigate attitudes, behaviors, and outlooks of office-based workers. The study's findings are likely to provide insights into the future of work, offering valuable guidance for businesses and organizations as they navigate the new era of work.
- The study's second edition, "Resetting Normal," underscores the significance of mental health in shaping the future of work, suggesting that companies need to be proactive in fostering supportive environments to ensure employee well-being and productivity.
- The findings of "Resetting Normal" study, conducted across 25 countries with nearly 15,000 knowledge-workers surveyed, illustrate that successful adoption of flexible work relies not only on work arrangements but also on promoting clear communication, shared purpose, intentional collaboration structures, and workplace wellness, including mental health.
- As businesses strive to understand the changing expectations in the workforce and navigate the new era of work, the science of health and wellness, particularly mental health, will play a crucial role in shaping the future of workplaces, with finance and business strategies directly impacting employee well-being and productivity.
