Now we are a few months into 2023, we are beginning to see the key workplace trends for the year ahead. After a turbulent few years following the COVID-19 Pandemic it’s become clear that the landscape in workplaces across many different industries has changed and it’s key for any organisation seeking growth in the new year to understand these trends and how to leverage these changes to ensure continued success. Here are 3 key workplace trends to keep an eye on in 2023:
- Providing flexibility and hybrid working opportunities
This has been at the forefront of many organisations’ minds since the pandemic and has transitioned from being a ‘nice to have’ to being a must have for a lot of job seekers and employees. A key component of making hybrid working work for your organisation is being clear on expectations of employees and listening to what they want to develop a tailored approach rather than trying to find a one size fits all option. An interesting consideration to make when looking at hybrid working models is the concept of results-focused work environments as opposed to hours worked. In a nutshell this refers to measuring success on the outputs (results) achieved rather than the hours an employee is spending online. This goes hand in hand with some of the biases attached to hybrid or work from home models and the misconception that teams are less productive when they work from home.
- Focus on employee wellbeing
As the economic climate continues to be uncertain and employees are beginning to experience burnout from increased workloads, post-pandemic mental wellbeing will continue to be a hot topic across organisations. Prioritising your employee’s wellbeing will also encourage retention, which is increasingly important given the current job market in addition to building a positive workplace culture and sense of trust throughout the organisation.
- Priortising soft skills
The concept of ‘soft skills’ has been around for several years now, and many organisations include these skills as key capabilities for their teams. However, in 2023 with the increase of hybrid working practices the need to build relationships virtually and for leaders to work with reduced oversight of their teams has made them even more important. Key soft skills that have been identified as being in high demand are management, leadership, critical thinking, problem solving and innovation. Not only will these skills contribute to developing a positive organisational culture, but they’ll also provide your organisation with a point of difference to attract and retain new staff.
There’s no doubt that 2023 will have some additional surprises in the workplace, TMS Consulting can support you and your teams through these workplace changes in providing Leadership and Team Development, Culture Enhancement and Workforce Planning. Reach out to our team if you’d like to discuss further at solutions@tmsconsulting.com.au
