THE DECAY OF CORPORATE CULTURE
The “return to work” plans unfolding in various parts of the country are creating a challenge for business leaders. Emotional and physical safety are being weighed against a desire to return to some form of normalcy. A major factor driving these considerations is a concern about the impact remote work is having on corporate culture. While most leaders recognize the many benefits virtual work has offered their employees, what it means to be connected and belong to an office is not yet fully understood in this new remote world.
Most corporate cultures were established with a traditional approach to work - large groups of people in one office, sharing ideas and building in-person relationships. In a world changed by COVID-19, the option to work remotely is no longer a novelty, but an expectation. Workers realize that commuting to an office five days a week is no longer necessary to do their jobs. Understanding this shift, many corporate leaders have voiced their concern for what they perceive to be a decaying of corporate culture.
Anyone who has observed the cycle of nature understands that decay brings new life. A tree falls in the forest, it slowly breaks down, turns to soil, and new plants grow in its place. In corporate culture, the cycle of decay currently taking place will bring new opportunities to strengthen and improve organizations. Great leaders will recognize the possibilities brought by remote work and seize them. The ability to do so requires courage to create new ways of thinking rather than retrofitting an old playbook.
Do recent shifts in corporate culture make you uneasy? Do you have the right people on your team to thrive in this environment? Are you grappling with the best ways to squeeze opportunity from your current challenges?
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