In many ways, the pandemic has forced authorities, citizens, companies, employees and customers to reinvent themselves and to find more or less successful ways to get through this particularly unique period…
For companies, the sometimes-forced choice to introduce homeworking, the hybrid model or any other solution has not been easy. Between the technical, human and organisational requirements and the disrupted deadlines, the bosses had to play the “crisis management” card to the full. Employees and customers, in most cases very resilient, followed suit.
Now it is time to plan a return to the new normal for 2022 by playing the FLEXIBILITY card.
It is no longer possible to manage workplaces or FM services according to established principles. Numbers, volumes, flows and prices must be able to be changed at will.
This may be tiring, but it will become the rule. Admitting this situation and taking advantage of it are cardinal virtues.
Thus, one must be prepared to:
• Review the operating hours of the facilities but also of the teams’ attendance.
• Change the way teams operate, whether face-to-face, remote or hybrid.
• Renegotiate certain FM services downwards or upwards according to the new constraints.
• Reduce traditional workspaces in favour of collaborative spaces: staff come to the company because the tools are not otherwise available or to communicate, not to write letters and emails…
• Train and motivate managers to manage multi-site teams.
• See if collaborations with other companies would not allow certain services to be consolidated or federated.
Of course, there is no such thing as “the” right solution, otherwise we would know about it. On the other hand, it is important to remain open to comments and proposals from staff, customers, or suppliers: there is often a tendency to believe that these are criticisms, whereas most of the people involved want to make their own small contribution to the company’s success.
Whether we like it or not, the situation has become very challenging for companies. It’s a big gap, but with a little practice, anything is possible.
Have a good week, good thoughts, and good reading.