Organisations have surprised themselves by the speed with which they are responding to the crisis. Pecan research found three-quarters (75%) of leaders had seen a positive impact on their working practices.
Ways of working that they had attempted to introduce into their culture for years, such as flexible-working, product innovation and agility, have suddenly got traction and they have achieved the unimaginable in weeks rather than months (or years).
These early improvements to workplace culture are having a significant knock-on impact. Three quarters of respondents reported a positive impact on engagement (79%), effectiveness (71%) and customer experience (70%).
As lockdown eases and businesses start to find their “new normal”, this is an encouraging sign of performance potential across UK organisations.
Ella Overshott, Director at Pecan said,“Talking with UK leaders it is clear that despite the extraordinary challenges, there is a silver lining to this pandemic.
“Many workplaces are listening more carefully to customers’ needs, they are becoming more empathetic, more democratic and quicker to adapt. Weekly or daily check-ins to agree priorities in a changing landscape, allocate resource and review progress are becoming the norm.”
Wise leaders will engage their employees to capitalise on positive behaviours developed during lockdown and fully embed them into their new world of work. In so doing, they will establish a more innovative, creative and high performing culture.
Ella continues “Old habits die hard. There is a limited window of opportunity to bounce back and transform before old cultural norms start to reassert their grip. Beware the learnings from the 2008 crisis – it is the organisations who are willing to reflect, learn and adapt who will thrive in the future”
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