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Par t Two Is It Time To Create An Agile Workforce?
A G I L E W O R K I N G An Introduction
INTRODUCTION.What Is Agile Working?
The world is changing and the speed of change is accelerating. Many businesses acknowledge that it is time to embrace alternative ways of working rather than fit the evolving world of work into traditional structures. We need to evolve our working approach to meet the ever-changing needs of colleagues and clients in the 21st century.
So what is agile working? It is about more than flexible working; it is about empowering and entrusting colleagues to think creatively about where, when and how they work to deliver the best outcomes. By adopting the right agile working practices, colleagues can all improve their work-life balance to suit their personal needs.
The term ‘agile working’ covers a broad and modern range of working practices to allow your business to meet the changing needs of your clients and colleagues, both today and in the future. Agile working focuses on colleague outputs and the most conducive way to achieve these, for example:
• What do colleagues do?• When do colleagues work?• Where are they working?• Who is employed?
Your business can support colleagues to work in an agile way by creating a suitable working environment and culture that correlates with the needs of the business and colleagues - whether that’s through home-working, flexible hours or teleconferencing instead of travelling.
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THE BEGINNING.How Agile Working Started
22 founder companies of the Agile Future Forum (AFF) share a common view: workforce agility can and is already generating significant and tangible economic benefits for businesses. These benefits are wide reaching for both the organisation and the employee. Research conducted by McKinsey on behalf of the AFF has shown that agile working currently generates value equivalent to 3-13% of workforce costs and has scope to generate further value equivalent to an additional 3-7% of workforce costs and sales uplift of 11%.
However, a broader approach is needed, which is business led by focussing on delivering value to the company as well as being colleague initiated. Having an agile workforce, environment and mindset will help you to anticipate change and address the environmental forces affecting your
business.
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GROWTH. Businesses Need To Differentiate
Businesses and organisations across the UK are now driving forward with their growth agenda. In order to be successful they need to create employment propositions that not only attract and retain talent but can also suit their own business needs. Below are some examples of macro-factors that organisations need to take into account when attracting the right people to work for them:
Demographic and social changes:
Our population is aging – by 2050 1 in 4 will be aged over 65+ (1 in 6 at present). We have more generations simultaneously in employment, with different expectations.
There are more women in work – 47% of the UK workforce – and in 60% of two parent families both parents work. This is changing how men as well as women live and work.
Digital technology:
Technology is significantly altering how we interact - 61% of UK adults have access to a smartphone.
Technology is creating new expectations and opportunities – 46% of UK employees have access to a laptop through work.
Globalisation and marketplace changes:
The range of organisations offering services is expanding and clients expect to be able to access services 24/7.
Agility is important to colleagues – 45% of UK employees value flexible working above pay.
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YOUR BUSINESS. Your Agile Working Checklist
Create the right mindset and demonstrate it:
Agile working is for everyone. We can all be empowered and trust each other to think creatively about how, when and where we work to deliver the best outcomes.
• Trust the people around you and you’ll get back more in return.• Focus on outputs – not jackets on the back of chairs.
The right people for the right tasks at the right time:
Agile working helps you deliver the best outcomes. It will allow you to focus on outputs and achieve these in ways that benefit your clients and your business.
• Should your business deliver sevices outwith traditional 9-5 hours?• Speak to others who work in a different way to you – what can you learn?• Consider how a change in how you work could add value to your life?• Could it result in a better service to clients too?• Talk with your team openly and honestly.
Less travel but not necessarily mean less contact:
Agile working keeps us connected. We can all decide when, where and how we work
• Ask if you’re really adding the best value by choosing to travel.• Use all the technology around you to enrich your relationships.• Ask yourself, what is the very best use of my time right now?
Using space smarter:
Agile working can happen anywhere. We can all think differently about using the space we have available to help us work smarter with colleagues and clients.
• Working from alternative work locations may improve productivity.• Plan how you will stay connected when working in different locations.
The right tools for the job:
You can all use the tools and technology of an agile workforce to help you work smarter Don’t be frightened to try something new!
• Changing your mindset is everything when working agilely.• Use technology as another way to deepen your relationships.
RSA Flex report (2013), HR getting smart about Agile Working (CIPD, 2014), Agile Future Forum (2015), Office of National Statistics (2012), TUC analysis of Labour Force Survey (2013).
