Simply Work Differently

Bricks, Bytes and Behaviour - Cornerstones for New Work

The backbone of this change is formed by the components: Bricks, Bytes and Behavior. They can be seen as the cornerstones for a complex new concept of work.

Bricks as a symbol for the new design of the workplace

As already mentioned, "Simply Working Differently" also includes the redesign of the existing workspace, because a new sense of community is to be established through the design of new, open and flexible spaces. In addition, employees are given significantly more opportunities to work together. It is important that the spatial design fits the employees and their activities and thus supports them in their work. For example, the workstations can serve flexibly as an individual workspace, a quiet zone or a team office. In addition, it is also important to offer employees social areas when working in a new way. In this way, the well-being of the employees is strengthened and productivity is increased.

Bytes as a symbol for new technologies

With the increasing changes in the physical environment, new technologies should not be neglected, of course. When introducing a new communications infrastructure or optimizing the existing one, it is important to ensure that it facilitates rather than complicates employees' working lives. The use of cloud computing, for example, means that business data can be accessed at any time and from anywhere, and the use of social networks enables virtual office spaces, which play a particularly important role in the trend toward home offices.

Behavior as a symbol for a shared corporate vision

When a company undergoes change, the focus is on the corporate culture and the behavior of employees and managers. For management, this means demonstrating the benefits to employees at an early stage, setting an example of the shared vision and involving them in the transformation. Since a new workplace concept is often accompanied by more freedom, which requires, among other things, good self-management, self-discipline and responsibility, it is the task of managers to cushion and support employees. Because of the great freedom, the employer must have great trust in the employees, because this is the only way the new strategy can work. Only in this way can the change take hold at all levels of the company and ensure that it is accepted by all parties. Communication with employees is the be-all and end-all. For example, a system can be introduced that allows employees to provide regular feedback. Embedding a new, modern and digital workplace strategy also has implications for the corporate brand. This makes the company much more attractive to both current and future employees, because a modern workplace with access to the latest technology that makes work easier is becoming an increasingly important factor in job selection today.

Last but not least

Even though Bricks, Bytes and Behaviour are the cornerstones of a new and flexible working concept, the components are not set in stone, nor does it mean that all components have to be implemented. Companies should consider bringing in specialized staff to deal only with anchoring the change and everything related to it. After all, implementing change in a company is not a simple task that can be completed quickly. Because one thing is clear: a lot is changing, but even small steps lead to success in the long run.