In business, we have a purpose, a vision and the desired destination.
The way we get to the desired destination varies. Conditions are unpredictable. The environment we are working in is changing rapidly.
Some organisations are changing dramatically. Teams work remotely, and staff can be hired from anywhere to work in a virtual team. Other traditional companies are trying to get people to return to the office and resume pre-pandemic work conditions.
e.g. In the education sector, the destination of skilling students up has not changed, but the way this is accomplished is very different. Educators have had to become more creative to cater for students who are not able to participate in a training program the same as they were able previously.
We need to recognise that some people are going to be more adaptable than others. Tolerance, adaptability, safety and consideration of others are required to help everyone adapt to a new environment. Some people are going to be able to adapt easily.
Some people can set up a work environment easily at home and others do not have living conditions that easily facilitate this. Remote working suits some while others want to travel to the office regardless of their health conditions.
Remote offices are springing up everywhere, allowing people to work in a professional space but still close to their place of residence.
Pivot and adaptability are mentioned in many discussions. How are we going to support everyone to adapt and be included in the new work paradigm?
Even if people return to the physical office, the configuration of the office space is being changed so that a healthy environment is optimised and disease transmission is minimised.
Change fitness is the capability of adapting to change. People who welcome change and adapt are in the minority. Most people want stability and do not welcome change. Change fitness is a skill that can be learned.
Social change, work environment change, and health environment change all pressure individuals.
Traditionally safety was referenced around physical dangers.
Safety is now being talked about in a white-collar environment. Psychological safety and trust are essential for people's mental health. It is about the company culture. People need to feel safe to make mistakes and learn from them. Political environments do not engender trust and a psychologically safe work environment.
The leadership requirement for facilitating psychological safety in the organisation has been required for some time, but now it is an imperative.
Organisations that are psychologically safe and change fit always perform at a higher level.