Returning to the Office: What Managers Can Do to Prepare

Employers need to be prepared for how things have changed since we went into lockdown last spring

Office manager talking to worker. Pixabay

By Josh Christopherson CEO of Achieve Today

With the COVID-19 vaccine rolling out across the country, offices are reopening and employees are returning to in-person work. What can we expect going forward and how can leaders be ready?

How Can Managers and Company Leaders Prepare for Offices to Reopen, and What Tools Can They Use?

As offices reopen, it is important for managers to recognize that many of their employees have experienced the conveniences of working from home for more than a year. Employee mindset has changed over that time, and teams need to embrace new tools and new hybrid work models in order to bring back company culture and collaboration.

Tools that help bring people together and grow culture remotely will be critical as businesses large and small adapt to this new environment. Employee education and skills training is one area where remote technology needs to be adopted in order to meet the same quality standards as in-person learning. Technology can combine training tools with AI-powered coaching and progress reporting to help managers. This will help replace some of what is missing from the work experience when employees are out of the office while still allowing them to experience the conveniences that come with working from home. When managers embrace new tools, managers also embrace that their employees are going to spend some of the workweeks at home.

Is There Anything Managers Should Do to Personally Adjust Their Leadership Approach as Staff Returns to Work?

The discussion around the concept of a hybrid work environment varies. Managers need to adjust their mindset and tour the benefits of a hybrid working environment in order to attract high-quality talent and retain their existing employees.