The Future of Work

Can we have a conversation about positioning for remote work?

Many weeks ago, when the traffic problem of Lagos skyrocketed overnight because of the government’s decision to ban “okadas” (motorcycles in all forms), I started to talk to my tribe about working from home as a viable solution to having to spend countless productive hours in traffic. It comes with the very attractive side-benefits of:

1. Getting more done in less time (with a cooperative team)
2. Spending less on office space (cutting back on both rent and utility bills)
3. Spending less money, time and effort dealing with transport-related issues

…Just to mention a few. Of course, it requires plenty of self-discipline and determination, and a unique set of skills, so it became imperative to look at those skill sets.

The COVID-19 drives it all home, all over again. As more people need to self-isolate, it is important to find ways to keep the economy going, to mitigate the fallout, keep cash flow moving, stay relevant at the end of this swing and come out on top even. One thing that stood out, is how children and teenagers (Generation Z) have adapted more quickly to learning online than their millennial counterparts: they already use technology and the internet in so many creative ways, that adding one more (learning) to it was a breeze. It is a huge pointer to the direction of “evolution”, where social gatherings may very well become just that: social gatherings.

In view of the coming lockdown (prayerfully temporary), it seems like a good time as any to have the conversations needed to equip you for remote work: as an employee, you should be looking to learn:

• the skills you need to have
• the prime indices to look at ahead of negotiations with your employer
• software, apps and tools you can leverage on to get your work done

And for business owners:

• explore leveraging technology to deliver quality in case of a total shutdown of the work system (for example, in view of COVID-19)
• keeping your cash flow well in the profit zone even if your physical doors are not open
• tools, software and other channels that should become your best friend
• training and prepping an effective workforce for remote work
• determining and defining the parameters of deliverables and time frames

These are tips towards honest conversations you can have with yourself, your friends, colleagues or fellow business owners. Talk about funding, and how you can cut costs, without treating your employees badly (they’d be doing the same volume of work, and in some cases more), so remote work shouldn’t be an excuse to slash their incomes (we are trying to solve a problem here, not create new ones. Please leave their purchasing power alone). If you get stuck, or need personalised advice on making this transition, feel free to drop a comment below, or send a mail to phronesislighthouse@gmail.com with your questions, and there will be someone to put you through.

On the other hand, you can access the Future of Work course HERE. A detailed compilation of over 30 conversations and trainings, it incorporates answers to the most popular questions, as well as direction for the coming days (and life post-COVID). From the economic implications of a possible meltdown, the shift in the workspace value chain, down to the response of the corporate real estate and how you can position yourself to win (especially if you will be working or running a business from home), we’ve got you. And like all PHRONESIS Lighthouse courses, there’s a personalized support system at the other side to help you through your questions. Sign up

We win, together

Hadassah