Hi All,

As we slowly emerge from the shadow of Covid-19, we encounter a world that has been disrupted and in the process of tremendous change. Regardless which way it goes, the remainder of 2021 is going to be an interesting year, particularly as we think about where we are going to work. Leaders seem so indecisive about the redefinition that is occurring surrounding the how, what, when, where, why and so what of work. It demonstrates how past paradigms and mental models are powerful shapers of the future.

While some firms want to return to the office, others are moving towards either a purely remote workforce or a hybrid solution. Regardless, we need to find new ways of engaging and managing our people, and measuring and recording workforce data and key metrics. We can no longer rely on the ideas and practices from the past century to solve today’s issues.

In every scenario, the manager is the lynchpin to making it all work. We have known for at least the past five years that managers are underdeveloped and exposed. Recent workforce data underscores the urgency of the situation.

Korn Ferry reports that 75% of employees have a fractured relationship with their manager, so much so that 52% of employees are or will be looking for a new position. This data formalizes the link between manager performance and core talent management issues of engagement, productivity, retention and profitability. For this reason, Covid has accelerated the shift to a knowledge/concept economy and increased the pressure on business leaders to provide innovative solutions.

This isn’t a time for more thin solutions, or continuing with the status quo. Nor is it time for simply automating and rebranding ideas and practices from the 1950s-1990’s. The status quo has helped us get to this crisis in managerial performance. The old models and applications simply are no longer effective.

It is time to reimagine how we select, engage, develop and manage our managers. Businesses have explored the customer journey with great care and attention. We are just beginning to pay the same careful attention to the employee journey. It is important that we do.

We believe managers are the lynchpin to talent retention, culture, productivity and your success as a business. Are you giving yours what they need to thrive in the hybrid work context?

Rick