Written by: Adam Markel, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
As 2023 comes to an end, it’s fascinating to think what work would look like come 2024. We are now living in the post-pandemic era and though we continue to see companies allowing a work-from-home setup, it’s safe to say that everything should now be back to normal. The new normal, that is.
Why? Because come 2024, location will continue to be less of a factor than it used to be. Yes, we will continue to see hybrid work set up and this is expected to grow to up to 81% by next year.
It has also been projected that an estimated 70% of the workforce will be working from home remotely for at least five days a month by 2025, a trend that is likely to continue as businesses try to adapt.
Regardless of how businesses conduct work, one thing that remains critical is the leadership strategies to instill in people’s minds, through simple words and actions, that they are not alone and that they have their backs. Why? Failing to do so can lead to a “watch your back” culture where people are more focused on self-preservation instead of thinking about the greater good.
I was working as a lifeguard on the south shore of Long Island when I learned this very important lesson. I was 19 back then and the beach was often crowded especially during the summer months.
It was during one of those days when a swimmer went missing. Our team was immediately deployed but after more than an hour of searching, we were faced with the terrible reality that the swimmer had drowned – on our watch.
Despite the tragedy, our leader told us that there’s something we can learn from this horrific experience and that is that we have to be impeccable. We had to flawlessly watch each other’s backs if we did not want something similar to happen again.
People today need to feel the same level of confidence and support. That being said, below are six strategies that will help your company develop a "got your back" culture.
Adopt the language of selfless service
As a leader, you have to build trust in the workplace by showing genuine concern and support for the people around you through your words and deeds. This does not mean putting up with subpar performance.
Accept real feedback
It's great when people ask and answer questions like, "What's working for me?" or "What's not working for me?" By nurturing psychological safety in the workplace, you create an environment where people feel free to express themselves, be open and honest, and where trust is built.
Integrate resilience rituals into your culture
Establish support systems to help employees grow their resilience and integrate it into the company culture. This can mean planning resilience training programs that are tangible and important and communicating the organization's values to employees.
Reevaluate everything
There should be no sacred cows, period. Something might have gone smoothly in January but not in February. Every previous policy, standard, tenet, or catchphrase needs to be examined in some capacity.
Create ways to celebrate together
Being a lifeguard at the time, I can look back and recall that despite the serious atmosphere, we had a lot of laughter and grins that I always cherish. What I discovered is that these kinds of solid relationships take time to develop.
You may help individuals become more resilient so they can leverage the challenges they meet now and in an uncertain future by putting these concepts into practice. Every organization has a culture that either says, "Got your back," or "Watch your back." The rest is up to you.
Adam Markel, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Bestselling author, keynote speaker, workplace expert and resilience researcher Adam Markel inspires leaders to master the challenges of massive disruption in his new book, “Change Proof — Leveraging the Power of Uncertainty to Build Long-Term Resilience” (McGraw-Hill, Feb. 22, 2022). Adam is author of the 1 Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, and Publisher’s Weekly bestseller, “Pivot: The Art & Science of Reinventing Your Career and Life.” Learn more at AdamMarkel.com.
