Successful companies evolve with trends. They keep pace with changes in technology and market demands as a matter of survival. But a truly healthy company evolves within. It does not happen by chance, it’s a deliberate act. It takes effort to cultivate a strong company community.
And none of it is possible without a stream of open communication.
The way we work has changed dramatically in the last two years. The technology built decades ago allowed businesses to survive during a global crisis. But something else happened – people saw a new way of collaborating that wasn’t dictated by proximity. Long held assumptions about digital workspaces being “isolating” disintegrated as people experienced connection and productivity while working remotely. Work/life balance improved with the efficiency that networks and technology provided. People realized there can be warmth and organic connection when not in the same room. Technology can foster this connection. It provides the access, especially when designed and implemented with an eye on building a community of shared purpose.
The pandemic and move to remote work provided an unexpected study of the impact on productivity and satisfaction. Studies found that remote work was a roaring success for employees. 90% of employees reported they were more productive working remote vs working on-site. The consensus on virtual meetings was that they were markedly less stressful. When employees are less stressed and more comfortable, they engage more, absorb more, and shift from meeting to work with ease. Employees also realized the added value of a flexible work environment. When considering taking a job, more people are ranking flexibility as a top perk. The modern employee wants self-determination over where they live, when they work, how much they commute. They want options that fit with their families and their obligations outside the workspace.
Whether employees are working remotely or within traditional office spaces, digital communication is critical to a healthy work community. Digital workspaces offer a clear channel for an exchanging of ideas, camaraderie across departments and roles, and for voicing concerns. When communication is only top-down, performance and moral suffers. Providing a channel for bottom-up communication is a good first step. But to make communication channels effective and productive and illuminating, they need to be designed with thoughtfulness, with an understanding of the culture the company has or wants to create.
The future is digital, but so is the present. The difference in this moment is how companies utilize the digital space. Those who embrace it and cultivate it will be leading the way in their respective industries. Those who resist it will suffer retention issues and less employee satisfaction and will attract fewer new hires, all of which directly impact production and revenue.
When companies choose to take advantage of the technology available and see how it can fit into an inclusive and healthy workplace, they are empowering their employees in a multitude of ways.
Employees want to be seen and heard. they want to be understood by the people they work for. They have ideas, perspectives, and talents, all looking for a place to land. The company that provides that space will retain those employees. A well-designed intranet can be the forum and the catalyst for the connection between people within a company… connections that encourage collaboration between whole people, moving beyond labels or roles. When this is enabled and encouraged in the digital workspace, employees feel a part of something bigger than themselves. They feel more invested in the work they do and in the work community. The result is career growth, learning new valuable skills, and expanding their knowledge of the business and the industry. A more gratifying and rewarding work experience is good for employees, good for upper management, good for revenue and stockholders.
Our vision of the digital workspace is a breaking down of barriers within companies. Double-loop communication and learning across departments and levels. From cubicle farms surrounded by closed-door offices to unobtrusive and seamless streams of communication. A holistic culture within companies that understand shared goals, community contributions, respect and support for work and talent. Flexibility that accommodates employees’ needs, and consideration for the employee beyond their role in the workplace. We see talent being cultivated and nurtured across miles and traversing hierarchies. Employees afforded better career trajectories, companies humming along with efficiency and stability. Good for employees, good for corporate shareholders, good for communities outside the workplace. Mutually assured productivity and success.
The future is now and the options and opportunities are endless opportunities when it comes to creating a digital workspace that enhances all levels and all facets of a company.