Change can be daunting for many of us, yet what should truly concern us is if we choose not to change instead. This holds true not only in our personal lives but also in the workplace.

 

Right now, we are being called to redesign how our workplaces and organisations operate. We are being asked to reconsider our values and what is important to us. We are being asked to reconsider what it means to come together to work.

 

Many are clinging to the workplace of the past, yearning for a return to the "good old days." While there is a sense of nostalgia, there is also a need for acknowledgement that change is necessary, even if we are trying to resist it.

 

Observing nature, we see that change is inevitable—things grow, evolve, shift, and die. The same is true of our lives and work. The traditional nine-to-five workday is fading, office work is transitioning to remote and hybrid models, and hierarchical leadership is being challenged by distributed leadership. Offices and personal desks are being replaced with hot desks and flexible working spaces, while corporate attire is giving way to jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers.

 

Despite changes in office spaces, dress codes, and leadership structures, there is still much work to be done. Reflecting on where you are, being curious about how your workplace could evolve, and learning new ways of working and being are needed as we transition into the new way of what it means to work and be employed.

 

However, before we act on the newest trend or latest piece of research, we need to consider whether these changes are necessary for our organisations. We need to ask and listen to our people and their ideas, or perhaps even start from scratch.

 

In a rapidly advancing world, we must be ready to embrace change and think differently. If not, we will face stagnation, preventing both our organisations and the people within them from thriving.

 

This is not conducive to a healthy, vibrant workplace.

 

Workplaces are as much about the people within them as the work they do, and fostering a positive environment is essential.