The Challenge of Remote Work for Future Fitness
Organizations striving for future fitness must be adaptive, resilient, and capable of fostering employee well-being while maintaining productivity. However, remote work has complicated this process. Employees often struggle to clearly define their roles, tasks, and expectations, leading to increased ambiguity and reduced performance. Without in-person interactions, employees may find it harder to interpret responsibilities and stay connected to the broader mission, which research links to declines in engagement and productivity.
A key challenge is the disruption of interpersonal sensemaking—the process by which employees make sense of their work through interactions with colleagues. Non-verbal cues, spontaneous conversations, and shared experiences help employees understand their work and maintain a sense of community. In remote settings, these opportunities are diminished, making it more difficult for employees to remain engaged and productive.
From an organizational perspective, leaders may find it challenging to ensure consistency in company culture, sustain innovation, and measure productivity effectively when employees are dispersed. The shift to remote and hybrid models requires a reevaluation of work structures, communication norms, and performance metrics to ensure that organizations remain competitive and responsive to change. However, leaders may not be adequately prepared to take on this challenge. For example, a recent report found that 70% of managers have received no formal training on leading hybrid teams. This gap in leadership prepardness raises an important question: Where do we start? Addressing this leadership gap is essential for organizations aiming to optimize remote work strategies and maintain a future-fit workforce.
The Future Fit Organizations Quick Scan: Understanding Remote Work’s Impact
To help organizations navigate these challenges, our Quick Scan on Remote Work Impact offers a data-driven approach to understanding how remote work is influencing your workforce. This diagnostic tool provides insight into:
- Employee sentiment towards remote and hybrid work structures.
- Task execution and productivity under remote work conditions.
- Challenges and opportunities related to work design and employee experience.
- Actionable strategies to enhance the benefits of remote work while mitigating its downsides.
By leveraging these insights, organizations can proactively refine their remote work strategies, ensuring that they cultivate an environment where employees can thrive. In doing so, they not only enhance well-being and performance but also position themselves as truly future-fit organizations.
This Quick Scan marks the first in a series of rapid evaluations aimed at equipping organizations with the tools to navigate the evolving world of work. Stay tuned as we continue to explore key issues shaping the future of work and organizational success. If you have a suggestion for a Quick Scan you’d like us to conduct in your organization, reach out to our research team—we’d love to hear your ideas!