Management has taken on new forms in recent years, as the workplace has shifted to allow more flexible work, as well as the change in generational dynamics. These impacts have affected the way in which leadership manages their teams, processes, and projects. To successfully lead in the future, it’s important to keep an eye on management trends.
The latest trends incorporate the changes currently taking place in the workforce. From the introduction of new technological tools and resources to the ability to work from home, and further, to the introduction of more millennials into the workforce, these trends will shape how leadership effectively manages in today’s world.
Here are seven management trends to keep your eye on this year:
1. Remote Work and Management
If you aren’t offering your workforce flexible work, including remote working, you are behind the times. With 82 percent of companies offering some form of telecommuting arrangement, you’ll be hard-pressed to compete for top talent when they tend to be professionals looking for work-life balance. To attract and retain top talent, you’ll want to implement a formal flexible work policy.
2. BYOD – Bring Your Own Device
It’s the sign of the times that more people are working outside the office. Whether you offer remote work or not, your employees are likely working outside of your building. Having a BYOD policy will help keep your information and operations secure while allowing your employees to feel comfortable using equipment they enjoy.
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3. Transparency
Long gone are the days when information was kept secret and confidential while only sharing the “must-haves” of business. Although you likely won’t be sharing industry secrets and maintaining perfect transparency, it is the way that management is moving. Rather than managing the number of hours a person works and the order in which their tasks are completed, managers are overseeing employees by supporting collaboration, self-organization, and by using cloud-based tools.
4. Trust-Focused
With transparency and flexibility comes a level of trust rarely seen in the workforce before. As managers let go of traditional methods of leading and managing, they must learn to trust their employees and learn to evaluate them based on factors other than someone warming an office chair for eight hours a day.
5. Empowerment
Tying into the trust and transparency comes empowerment. Employees and staffers that are empowered to make their own decisions feel connected to their team and the organization. They also tend to be happier and more loyal as they are invested in their work processes and outcomes.
6. Millennial Management
It’s no secret that as the boomers continue to make their exit from the workforce, millennials are making their way into the workforce. The change in work styles and personalities are greatly shifting the way that work gets done. And for managers, this means a new way of leading and managing, and more focus on work flexibility and autonomy.
7. Professional Development
Although traditional benefits such as healthcare coverage and retirement matching are still very important, newer benefits are becoming a factor in whether employees stay with an organization or move on to other opportunities elsewhere. One of the most popular management trends is to offer staffers opportunities for professional development. Whether it’s providing benefits to pay for certifications or internal opportunities to grow, offering professional development programs is a sought-after benefit.
Readers, what other management trends do you see gaining momentum this year? Share with us below!
photo credit: istockhphoto.com
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