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How to Successfully Transition to a New Work Model: The Leader's Guide
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Empower employees to navigate
the transition
In recent years, we've seen numerous examples of
employers unsuccessfully attempting to transition back to
the ofce full-time after using fully remote or hybrid work
models. When employees don't understand or value the
transition, they're more likely to resist or even undermine
it, putting employers in the embarrassing position of
walking back publicly made claims and changing well-laid
plans.
Whatever work model you switch to, it will inevitably affect
the rhythm of work, and employees will need your help
to adjust. The more your transition involves changes in
where and how people work, the more vital your role as a
facilitator becomes.
One of the rst things you can do to empower your
employees is give them plenty of notice, and provide them
with a combination of succinct, meaningful rationale and
clear instructions. When the time comes to transition, you
don't want anyone to feel blindsided, or like the change to
a new work model is some pointless inconvenience. Show
them you understand how the transition affects them, and
then clearly articulate why it's necessary and how things
will be better afterward—for them personally, too, not just
the organization. Creating buy-in before the transition
takes place will vastly improve adoption and accelerate the
adjustment period.
