Why Feedback and Adaptability Are Key In a Post COVID World

Designforce recently posted an article regarding employees’ rights for returning to the workplace. In conjunction with that article, this blog aims to offer advice to employees regarding their plan for returning to work. As states and counties begin to open back up, firms are creating a return to work plan that outlines the rules and policies employees will live by moving forward. By now, you must realize that how you previously operated in your workspace and communicated with your team is going to look drastically different. Think back to the possibly hectic transition you went through when everyone quickly became remote employees; now think about possibly having half of your team working remotely while the other half are in the office. As an employee, it is imperative to adjust to these changes in order to not get left behind: 

Communication  

I don’t know how many times I have to say it, communication, communication, communication! No employer in the United States has been through this experience before; your employer is learning how to operate in this new business model just as you are. Do not put all of the responsibility on your employer to communicate the game plan. What is your game plan? What will you need in order to be successful in your role moving forward? What have you seen that works over the last three months and what has not worked? There are going to be a lot of unknowns for businesses moving forward, and you do not want to be one of them as an employee. 

Employers want to make sure employees are as comfortable as possible, so many are taking steps for returning to the office optional. This may come with a lack of communication and transparency between the employer and employee. As this transition begins, clearly communicate your plan with your supervisor. Ask them for a regularly scheduled video meeting so that you can articulate your plan and needs to be successful. 

Feedback 

When thinking about feedback, one must first understand the feedback loop communication model: The sender, or employee, typically transmits a message from the receiver, or employer, to complete a certain task. The employee then encodes a message or result, then sends it back to the employer through a certain channel. The feedback loop is surrounded by noise or barriers or distractions to the communication.  There are many different examples of noise, including physical barriers (i.e. remote working), positional barriers (i.e. who has the power in the hierarchy), and organizational barriers (distortion of communication through multiple layers of management). 

Incorporating repeatable feedback loops into your work will allow you to digest information and continue to improve. What can you adjust to better communicate with your team? How can you ensure the noise does not hinder your ability to accomplish tasks? 

Due to the abrupt transition into remote working and the slow transition back into the workspace, the feedback loop has drastically changed for the employee. In this new normal, you must receive extremely positive feedback from your employer in order to know that you are doing a job correctly or meeting expectations. If there is a lack of feedback, take action. You should constantly be checking in with your supervisor to ensure that you are meeting your firm’s expectations.

Adaptability 

Your game plan will change, and so will your employer’s. Before Covid-19, many employers’ outlooks on the ‘work from home’ model were seen as ineffective and not plausible. Now that employees across the world have shown that it can work, the expectations for what a conducive and successful WFH environment looks like will continue to shift. As employees, we have to ensure that we are adapting to the standards and quality of work to meet and exceed expectations. 

Maybe you will be returning to work full time, maybe you are permanently remaining a remote employee or a hybrid of both. Regardless of what your situation looks like, think about what you can adjust in order to be the most productive and efficient employee possible.