I was recently reading an article on collaboration ( Collaborative Overload ) and some of the problems that it can create for an organization. Wait, what? Collaboration is a problem? That may seem like an odd claim in this day and age when we seek ever increasing levels of collaboration and teamwork in our workforces. As the article points out though, there are potential problems out there if the effects of collaboration are not managed effectively. The basic problem with collaboration that is identified by the authors is that demands for collaborative activities - like attending meetings - pulls people away from being able to work on the actual tasks that they have been hired to work on. This creates a cycle requiring them to do things like take work home, which in turn increases stress, which then leads to burnout and turnover.
I ran across this article a few days ago about a new acronym - VUCA. This stands for: V - volatility U - uncertainty C - complexity A - ambiguity According to the article, we should expect to see more focus on VUCA as a set of considerations when dealing with business challenges or setting strategic goals. I'm sure many of you are familiar with the term - SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) - a tool used to assess where an organization is in relation to the environment (however that may be defined). The VUCA framework reminds me of SWOT, but at a slightly lower level when we are considering specific goals or strategies. One of the things I like that came from the article is the set of tools we can start to deploy or use once we identify where an issue may fall in the VUCA framework.These include things like communication plans or listening skills or collaboration to review possible responses. Using VUCA to Process Organizational Change - hr ...
You probably know that micro-managing employees is bad for your business and employees. What is the opposite of that though? Check out this article on autonomy. Autonomy could be the key to workplace happiness Research suggests that automony can have a positive impact in the workplace.