The pandemic has greatly changed the way organizations and businesses operate, and has left many business leaders scrambling to navigate a rapidly changing environment. As businesses continue to face the global pandemic, economic uncertainty, and social tensions, it seems like pivoting has become the new norm. As we look into the management trends of 2021, one thing is certain - the economic disruptions of the pandemic will leave an indelible mark on the way organizations will handle changes in the future. Below are the top management trends of 2021.
1. Remote Management
Working remotely during this pandemic is certainly not business as usual, even for work from home veterans. Fortunately, there are research-based steps that managers can take to improve the productivity and engagement of employees working remotely.
First of all, managers should understand the factors that could make remote work demanding for employees. Otherwise, even high-performing employees could experience a decline in their job performance, especially without training and preparation. Some of the most common challenges of remote work are lack of access to information, social isolation, lack of face-to-face supervision, and home distractions.
Scheduling daily check-ins through video conferencing is one way to address these issues. Aside from the daily check-ins, over-communicating should be practiced, especially when it comes to delegating tasks, duties, and responsibilities. Lack of communication is already a challenge in a normal workplace, so this can become even more challenging in the remote world. Remote work will also become more efficient when rules of engagement are established. It's also important to establish expectations when it comes to the best times for team members to reach their members, and vice versa.
2. Flexible Working Management
Flexible working is now on-trend. Changes in UK law, the popularity of cloud-based technology, and a sudden shift in working patterns brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic mean most people would now favor flexible working hours. And it's about time that management should implement flexible working. Studies show that about 87% of the UK's full-time workers are either working flexible or are likely to do so. Of the 3,000 adults surveyed, millennials are leading the way where 73% of those who are aged 18 to 34 who are working full-time, are doing so flexibly.
It's clear why people would prefer to work flexible hours. This allows them to easily control their work-life balance since they won't have to spend a lot of time on their commute, giving them more time to do other things outside of work. This also gives parents plenty of opportunities to spend more time with their kids. However, flexible working hours can also come with challenges.
But there are ways to easily manage a flexible working environment. One of these is to come up with a working hours policy to establish a clear process for how flexible working should be implemented within the organization. Another important thing to do is to document the terms of flexible working and to share this with everyone in a way that they are easy to access and review.
It's also important to clearly define the roles and responsibilities of each of your employees. The HR and managers should also be made aware of their responsibilities in successfully implementing a flexible working initiative.
3. Agile Management
Agile project management is the process of breaking up a project into several phases or iterations until completion. Iterative approaches are often used in projects involving software developments to promote adaptability and velocity. The biggest benefit of agile project management is that you are able to adjust the project as you go along, something that you can't do if you follow a linear approach.
The agile philosophy puts more emphasis on the constant and early delivery of value. This type of project management focuses on delivering the best value against business priorities within the allowed budget and time, especially if the need to deliver is bigger than the risk. The implementation of agile management starts by breaking the project into smaller pieces, which are then prioritized according to importance. Doing so promotes collaborative working, especially with the client. The agile way of working may involve reflecting, learning, and adjusting at regular intervals to ensure that the client is satisfied and will receive the expected outcome. Agile methods usually integrate planning with execution, which allows the organization to achieve a working mindset that helps the team to effectively respond to the changing requirements.
4. Inspiring Leadership
When employees are inspired, that is when organizations start to see real breakthroughs. Inspired employees are motivated to work harder, and are far more productive compared to others. These employees can also inspire those around them, pushing these people to work harder to achieve greater heights.
But as a manager, how can you become an inspiration to your team? You should start with yourself. Remember, you cannot pour from an empty cup. So be very honest with how you feel about the work culture and take time to apply these lessons. Forget about the open door policy and be intentional when reaching out to your team. Remember that as a leader, it is your responsibility to engage the team and not the other way around. Listen to your member's aspirations during your one-on-one meetings and work with them in creating a plan to achieve each of their professional goals.
Try to example the way you lead your people. Everyone knows that businesses are getting complicated at an alarming rate. Therefore, businesses should adapt to these changes to optimize results. Unfortunately, a lot of leaders are still using the same leadership style as they have over a decade ago. But remember that leadership styles should have expiration dates. Make sure yours is up to date.
Too often, managers would take up a hierarchical role in the company. But if they want to inspire, they should take up a role where they will lead from the front and become a model servant who puts their employees first. This manner of leadership builds connections and can improve morale in the workplace.
Latest posts by Virtual College (see all)
- Top Management Trends Of 2021 - July 6, 2021
