The Top 5 Workplace Trends for 2021
It’s been said enough - but 2020 has changed everything. A worldwide pandemic, a racial justice movement, an economic downturn not seen in decades and environmental catastrophes across the globe have reshaped how we connect, live and work. As we close out the year and look toward 2021, we do so with optimism, hoping that the “new normal” we build is actually a “better normal” - that we can turn the page and take with us the best of what we’ve learned.
Here at sr4 Partners, our work helping organizations cultivate holistic leaders, thriving cultures, cohesive teams and an inclusive approach to change means we are constantly learning from past lessons while looking ahead to future realities. We do this to support our clients in navigating the challenges and opportunities that exist on the way to building thriving organizations. What follows are the top 5 workplace trends we’ve identified for 2021.
1. Culture Forward
It wasn’t long ago that employees described their culture based solely on the office environment and face-to-face interactions. Now that the workplace has transitioned to our homes, culture is seen through a virtual lens, and the employee experience revolves more around a green dot than a water cooler. According to a SHRM study, 2 out of 3 employers say that maintaining employee morale during the pandemic has been a challenge. Going into 2021 this challenge will persist and increase, requiring organizations to revisit how their values come to life through new behaviors and norms.
At sr4 Partners, we understand that a thriving culture improves engagement and organizational performance. We work with you to benchmark and assess your current organizational health, and design culture-forward programs and initiatives that will drive business performance and employee loyalty.
2. Beyond the DEI Pledge
After the murder of George Floyd, many organizations pledged solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and committed to integrating DEI initiatives into their business. Yet, according to PWC’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Survey, 79% of D&I efforts remain “at the basic or emerging levels.” Employees, customers and shareholders alike expect organizations to follow-up the rhetoric with real change. From ERGs and diversity councils, to inclusive leadership training and a recruitment to retirement DEI strategy, 2021 will require organizations to make tangible advancements to ensure all individuals have a psychologically safe, equitable, and inclusive work environment.
At sr4 Partners, we believe diversity, equity, and inclusion requires a long-term commitment and a strategy that engages all stakeholders from the C-Suite to the community. We work with your team to customize an authentic and sustainable approach to DEI that will meaningfully contribute to your organization’s culture and performance.
3. Virtual Learning & Emotional Intelligence
An IBM study found that three-fourths of the workforce believes the pandemic has increased the need for companies to provide learning and development opportunities. Meanwhile, that same survey found the majority of HR executives indicate their workforce does not have the skills required to meet their organization’s objectives and their employees’ needs. Specifically, companies will be required to accelerate the pace of continuous learning and feedback using virtual instructor-led training (VILT) and coaching that prepares their managers to lead with empathy and agility.
At sr4 Partners, we developed the Elevate training series and offer the Ignite by sr4 leadership community to prepare your employees to lead with both competence and character. Elevate allows organizations to customize trainings on inclusive leadership, communication, collaboration, and managing distributed teams. Ignite provides weekly leadership experiences on cutting edge topics and trends with engaging peer interaction.
4. The Hybrid Workplace
The pandemic has required millions of professionals to work from home, and out of necessity, organizations have adapted. A survey conducted by Slack indicates that 72% of employees prefer a hybrid remote-office model, and organizations would do well to offer this flexibility as we move towards a new Covid-vaccinated reality. A hybrid work environment will heighten the need for effective communication and collaboration. Beyond adjusting to Zoom meetings and virtual training, the hybrid workplace of 2021 will require new tools, processes and initiatives that align your leaders and teams to ensure productivity, impact and a positive employee experience.
At sr4 Partners, we help build cohesive teams with the agility and tools to thrive in any environment. Core to this is ensuring psychological safety so your team can generate more innovative ideas, make more informed decisions, and achieve better results.
5. Rapid Digital Transformation
The Salesforce acquisition of Slack is a not-so-subtle hint that digital transformation will only intensify in 2021. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently told Wall Street, “We’ve seen two years’ worth of digital transformation in two months” - affirming McKinsey’s findings that 80 percent of executives increased automation at their companies during the pandemic. Next year will continue to bring massive technological changes that will transform the business landscape and companies need to learn to thrive in our new steady state of change.
At sr4 Partners, we understand embracing new technologies and transforming how you work is challenging. Many fail due to lack of transparency, poor communication and insufficient process. That’s why we’ve developed an inclusive change framework to prepare your workforce for an ever changing world.
Despite the challenging year we are wrapping up, we are grateful for the many lessons we learned and the opportunities we had to support an incredible portfolio of clients. We look forward to an exciting 2021 and navigating these trends with you. Have a safe, healthy and happy new year.
The sr4 Partners team