Brave New Shores

Now is the time we begin to ponder what direction to steer our teams. For some, the past two years yielded a boost in productivity with the embrace of remote and hybrid workspaces. Yet others noticed a downward spiral, perhaps due to enforcing the exact opposite stance and reducing workplace flexibility.

As murky as these waters may be, we do know for certain that we cannot steer our teams backwards. Discussed by consultant Bruce Daisley in this episode of the Recruiting Future podcast, there is no going back to the way things were. But that’s no reason for alarm. Rather, it could mean an occasion for celebration. Going forward is how we discover new shores.

To better face these upcoming horizons, we must turn to and support one another. We should emphasize an idea best summed up by John Maxwell’s famous saying, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” The popular phrase, elaborated on here by Yale University, delineates the value in respect for our team members and their individual struggles and dreams. A happy team is usually a productive team after all, as found in a study conducted by the University of Warwick.

Emphasized in this TED Talk by leadership consultant Simon Sinek, when we show empathy towards the needs of others, we gain loyalty and value. We gain a team focused on a mutual destination. Thus should we err on the side of humanity. Leading with heart might be what it takes to better prepare our organizations for the future of work.

Productivity may very well follow.

“The death of human empathy is one of the earliest and most telling signs of a culture about to fall into barbarism.”
- Hannah Arendt