Today’s guest blogger is Bill Benson with WilliamCharles Search Group located in Grand Rapids, MI. WilliamCharles is an executive search and professional recruiting firm specialized in finding managerial and executive talent in finance, HR, operations, sales/marketing as well as president/CEO roles. They have a concentration of clients in Michigan but they also work across the US. Bill is a past chairman of the NPAworldwide Board of Directors. Bill offers some workplace questions to consider below.

I walked into my office this morning and walked through our nicely appointed lobby noticing the most recent version of Harvard Business Review neatly organized on top of a fanned arrangement of other magazines. It struck me…am I in full denial? Continuing to invest in front office reception space and interview rooms is not serving the present or future needs.

We wonder…will things get back to normal? This is likely the wrong question. The right question might be – How do we operate our businesses so we stay ahead or alongside of where things are going? Important for us all to realize that change is difficult, and denial is a powerful force. Here are 6 workplace questions we should all ask ourselves.

1. How do we better manage our real estate expense and optimize our space? I see many changes that need to be made in our recruiting firm office space. We need more screens, faster internet and improved technology tools, not interview rooms and a reception area. Is your space serving your present or future need effectively?
2. Are we well suited to manage remote employees? Is your team empowered or directed? Are some managers stuck in a time and attendance mindset? How are we managing accountability and team dynamics in a distributed environment? If not in-person, how do you plan to deliver effective training and onboarding? How do you recognize, reward, and retain in a distributed work environment?
3. What staff and organizational changes are needed to optimize remote or hybrid work environments? Do you have the right leaders on the bus to lead this transformation? Does your hierarchical structure work in this environment? Who is leading and facilitating these changes? What additional roles are needed? What roles have become obsolete? How does this change impact the use of contingent employees?
4. How do we hire and retain the best employees as demand for good people heats up? As we confront the challenges brought forth by the pandemic, we also need to understand we are facing a war for talent. Competition over the best candidates will reach a fever pitch as the economy heats back up. Sorry…actually, it is already hot. How do you create a workplace that thrives and is able to effectively attract and retain talent? Perhaps up to 25% of the workforce will prefer or strongly prefer to WFH. Does this pose a threat or an opportunity for you?
5. What legislative changes and future trends will affect us? If you do business in EMEA you surely know about German privacy laws referred to as GDPR (stringent privacy laws) which impacts anyone doing business and hiring in Germany. Did you know it is illegal to ask someone their salary in multiple states within the US? These changes are coming your way. It is important to understand the changes that will impact how you obtain and manage information. Technology security and privacy will increasingly become critical business issue.
6. Do we have the right technology platform to successfully navigate the next phase of our business? Without a building connecting people, the technology platform becomes the place of work. How does your technology measure up? This must be a primary question to answer today.

Staying ahead of the curve will likely be a determining factor in the success of your business, department, or your career! What other workplace questions are you asking in your organization?