In this article written for Business Leader Magazine, executive coaching platform Vistage takes a closer look at business leaders and the future of work.

Being a leader takes a great amount of skill, certain personality traits, and a lot of time, patience, and dedication. For SME leaders specifically, it is incredibly important to find the right balance in running a successful business and a productive workforce.

Prior to the pandemic, at Vistage, we’ve been warning the corporate community about the accelerated trend towards digitisation, and the increasing complexity and interdependence of the global economy. As a result of the contextual shift over the last two years, business leaders now have a window of opportunity to grasp and understand the significance of this shift. For instance, younger generations in the workplace have long been pushing for a hybrid and flexible workplace confident they can work from any location and still be productive.

Data from our quarterly Confidence Index shows that only a quarter (25%) of small and medium-sized businesses have returned fully on-site post-pandemic, with the majority (67%) favouring a hybrid workforce model. While more open-minded, senior leaders are still concerned with how culture, communication and collaboration will be effected in a remote workforce.

That’s why it’s never been more important to focus on developing culture where adaptability across the board can thrive – everything from your management style to how new policies are introduced throughout the business.

When it comes to meeting these newly formed expectations and industry standards for flexible work, your ability to embrace change and uncertainty is second to none. Here’s a challenge for you – consider letting your team know that there won’t be an agenda in place for the next three company meetings, and see how things go. What’s the worst that can happen? It may be difficult at first but it’s an important muscle to flex, as the workplace continues to gravitate towards newer and more experimental ways of working like the four-day work week.

Hybrid working is quickly emerging as the new norm especially as SMEs look to increase their growth efforts amidst the ongoing labour shortage. By revamping your leadership style, to become more adaptable, the culture of your organisation will naturally mirror this while being competitive and productive.

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