At this stage, there's no questioning the extent to which COVID-19 has forever changed the workplace. Remote work became the norm, along with distance and separation. With virtual workplaces continuing in the future, the next generation of leaders will not only have to bridge organizational, but also cultural divides to create united companies on all fronts.

Three Types of Connections in Future Workplaces

The next generation of leaders will be required to help people create three types of connections they may have traditionally had less experience with. These will be connections with a physical distance, those between different cultures, as well as connections within new organizational set ups.

With remote work likely to remain to some extent, creating emotional connections across distances is key in order to develop a strong team. Next to this, without the locational restrictions brought about by an increase in remote work, cross-national and therefore cross-cultural collaborations will become more normal in the workplace. While technology connects us enough to work together, we have to put in greater effort to connect across cultures too. Strong leadership is required here, especially when creating activities which form stronger bonds.

Many businesses are undergoing radical transformations in how they’re set up. Decentralized models will be favored over traditional, hierarchical decision-based models. As this will result in employees having to interact with a wider selection of people, cultures and locations, it’s vital that leaders establish methods to ensure a smooth transition to this style of work. Going forward, it will also be important for workers to be united through a common purpose, to feel empowered, and possess a strong sense of company identity.

The Future of Work & Next Generation Leadership

The future of work will require the next generation of leaders to manage with more understanding and humility rather than an iron fist. Empathy is important considering the societal and personal struggles we have seen from the pandemic. Furthermore, dealing with those across different cultures and locations will require compassion and patience. Through strong leadership, employees can be guided to best handle the new types of connections they’ll experience in the future of work, and perhaps even in our world.

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