Workplace 3.0: A rare opportunity for leaders to engage with employees

The arrival of the future of work was earlier than the world expected. However, leaders are presented with the perfect opportunity to reinforce their organisational culture and connect with their employees as they adjust to the new work models.

The Great Resignation is a concern for leaders across the globe, but it is also one of the greatest opportunities for them. Today, leaders are faced with the rare opportunity to reinforce, reestablish and ‘re-recruit’ - build stronger connections through a 'culture reconnect'.

People are key to building organisational resilience - re-establishing connection with your people, reinforcing your culture, recommitting to their wellbeing and interest will help organisations thrive, become more agile, innovate faster and achieve higher results.

It goes without saying that people are the secret sauce to organisational resilience. The shift to the hybrid work model provides the leaders with the opportunity to reinforce their commitment towards their employees, hoping to build stronger connections through a ‘culture reconnect’. This commitment to the wellbeing of the employees help organizations climb up the ladder of success and make them all the more agile and innovative.

Take a look at how organisations have leveraged their workplace design to reflect their company culture and enhance employee engagement.

Brand identity and core values

Leaders can use this shift to  the hybrid work model to experiment, explore and expand the conventional workplace design strategy to translate their core values and build an identity beyond just their logo on the wall.

In today’s world where your culture is your brand, the workplace becomes an opportunity to reinforce your brand, culture and values. For example, empowering your people with the choice of work - different work settings, autonomy - open/unassigned seating reinforce the values of a firm such as trust and transparency through Workplace design.
A technology giant in Singapore wanted to portray its brand values  of connectivity and creativity — a space that nudges their  people to talk to each other and collaborate. We translated those values into their workspace  through a staircase that runs through the centre to create a meeting zone to spark incidental interactions. We also included social hubs, pantries, and enclosed rooms near the stairs to prompt social activity and face-to-face communication. Through this we achieved a significant  increase in  collaboration and  engagement in the workplace and enabled their people to truly live the brand through the workspace

Let’s admit it- finding our ‘tribe’ at work provides us with that needed boost of motivation and confidence. As leaders, you can thrive on this opportunity by providing opportunities for meaningful interactions and collaborations within the workplace. This paves the way for effective work and with it brings better engagement and synergy among employees.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

With how informed today's workers are, building an enticing work environment is more important than ever, the workplace can no longer be seen just as a place of work. A workplace that addresses their need to feel safe and secure, their need for connections and interactions, for finding purpose and meaning in their work and is inclusive will help leaders establish a deeper connection with their people.  From choosing the right materials to investing in the right technology all impact your connection with your people.

The constant questions around health and safety is causing stress for your employees. However, a focused approach on employee wellbeing while planning your move to a  hybrid work model can alleviate those fears, drive efficiency and productivity and collectively lead to business profitability.  Certifications like IWBI’s WELL Health - Safety Ratings monitor air and water quality, bring stringent cleaning and sanitation protocols, set emergency plans in place, all the while putting a cap on the new costs for the organisation that didn’t exist before. Think excessive water and electricity usage due to increased cleaning in your building. Our sustainable design strategy for Northern Trust's Pune office contributed towards 14% energy savings. The design process used smart occupancy sensors and energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems, along with a well-integrated, climatically aligned zoning strategy to map out a sustainable office interior design.

Smart technology acts as a blessing in disguise for the employees by providing them with safety through material usage and touch-less technology, both of which bear a positive impact on the physical and mental wellbeing of employees and make them feel secure and safe.

Diversity and flexibility