Research by the University of Birmingham reveals that almost 77% of managers claim that flexible working increases productivity.
However, whether in a remote or in-office work environment, productivity often depends on the effective use of digital tools, clear communication, and maintaining strong team collaboration.
For LIM's President Ernie Turner, promoting continuous improvement and growth through reflective practices and using the ‘Fist-Five’ method is key to boosting productivity.
Who Is Ernie Turner?
Ernie Turner is the President of LIM (Leadership in Motion), a global consulting firm specializing in ARL (Action Reflection Learning) principles for people and business development. He has coached executives and over 150 leadership teams across industries and authored several articles and books on leadership and teamwork.
Given that 83% of employees now prefer a hybrid working environment in 2024, I was curious about Ernie's opinion on how B2B organizations can ensure productivity and a healthy work-life balance.
He shares LIM’s two-step process to achieve these goals:
- #1: Engage the team in the Reflection and Dialogue (R&D) process
The R&D process as a popular method among business leaders promotes continuous improvement and growth through reflective practices and open dialogue among team members.
In Ernie's opinion, employees should individually reflect on their idea of a healthy work-life balance. Then, gather for an open dialogue session, where they will share their thoughts without debating or defending anyone’s point of view.
- #2: Set norms
After the R&D process, each team member suggests norms for future work practices. LIM uses the ‘Fist-Five’ method (Fist = No Way; 1 = I can live with it but not happy; 2 = it’s okay; 3 = good; 4 = great; 5 = WE MUST) to gauge agreement on proposed norms.
“With each round of F-F, we can hear what’s missing and invite the persons who put up a Fist, 1 or 2 to suggest what they would like to see instead. Generally, after 2-3 rounds we will reach consensus (3 or greater),” he notes.
The increased number of hybrid working environments has significantly impacted the use of collaboration tools.
Expectedly, this brings specific opportunities but also challenges among B2B leaders, such as the possibility of team members getting overwhelmed by using multiple tools.
In light of this, Ernie suggests a three-step process for maintaining team cohesion:
- Agree on criteria: As a team, establish the criteria for selecting a preferred planning tool
- Tool introduction: Invite team members to introduce and demonstrate their preferred tools, allowing everyone to experience each option
- Decision making: Use the 'Fist-Five' method to decide which tool has the most support. Then try out that tool for a few weeks and offer some feedback with potential tweaks
3 Strategies for Financial Benefit Amid Economic Crisis
Discussing how hybrid work models show potential in reducing real estate and operating costs by up to 50%, he suggests a few strategies B2B organizations can prioritize to leverage these financial benefits amidst economic uncertainty.
- Evaluate the impact on employee productivity: This can help bring better decisions and allocate resources more effectively including selecting the right productivity tools.
- Enhance employee engagement: It’s no secret that engaged employees are more likely to be productive, satisfied, and committed, so organizations should make this one of their priorities. Some activities to help with this include team building, flexible work arrangements, recognition and rewards programs, and health programs.
- Capitalize on savings from decreased operating costs: When it comes to real estate, the hybrid model can be of great help in saving on costs. However, organizations should smartly capitalize on those savings. From investing in more advanced technologies to various programs benefiting employees, strategically reinvesting these savings organizations can enhance their overall performance, support employee well-being, and remain competitive in the market.
Reflecting on the environmental impact, we discussed the findings on how remote work can reduce up to 58% of the work’s carbon footprint.
Hence, I asked Ernie how B2B companies can better integrate sustainability into their operational and leadership practices.
- The leadership team should define what sustainability means to each of them and then agree on a common definition that all of them can accept.
- Then, the team should identify what they as a company can do to increase sustainable practices and decrease unsustainable practices.
- Finally, they should cascade a sustainability ‘mindset’ across the entire organization by beginning with everyone taking the SMI (Sustainability Mindset Indicator).
5 Skills B2B Leaders Must Develop To Stay Ahead in 2024
In addition to exploring strategies for integrating sustainability and fostering company culture, we also delved into the top skills B2B leaders should focus on developing to stay ahead in 2024.
Among the various suggestions, one particularly stood out: the importance of asking for help and offering help generously.
This approach not only fosters a collaborative and supportive environment but also leverages collective expertise to navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by rapid technological advancements.
To embrace this skill, leaders should:
- Lead by example and encourage their team to actively participate in a culture of mutual support and collaboration
- Keep communications clear and frequent among departments
- Promote a culture where each employee will feel comfortable asking for help without fearing judgment
- Encourage team members to share their knowledge, expertise, and insights to support each other
- Ensure you are always accessible and approachable and be open to listening to your team’s concerns and questions
