{"id":516571,"date":"2020-02-26T10:46:42","date_gmt":"2020-02-26T15:46:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/?p=516571"},"modified":"2023-01-14T00:46:38","modified_gmt":"2023-01-14T05:46:38","slug":"change-management-readiness-mobile-working","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/research\/articles\/topics\/hybrid-work\/change-management-readiness-mobile-working\/","title":{"rendered":"Change Management: Readiness for Mobile Working"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether your workplace is going through minor changes\u2014refining your approaches\u2014or major transformation with full-on shifts in the organization and the place, it will be important to manage change with plenty of strategic thinking, planning and engagement.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re incorporating new approaches to mobility\u2014for example shifting from assigned desks to a free-address workplace strategy\u2014 you\u2019ll want to pay particular attention to the readiness of the organization for that shift. Chances are you may experience some questions\u2014or even pushback\u2014and you\u2019ll want to handle it head on.<\/p>\n

Identify Potential Resistance<\/h3>\n

First of all, many people won\u2019t know what to expect when you communicate you\u2019re moving to a mobility program. They may expect a loss of productivity with visions of wandering around the floor, building or campus in search of places to work or the colleagues with whom they need to interact. It\u2019s only natural they would feel some resistance.<\/p>\n

Leaders can sometimes resist mobility approaches as well. Some leaders may have been accustomed to managing their teams through presence and ensuring people are in the office certain hours\u2014concluding they are working when they are within sight. They may be unsure of how their teams will function and how the work will get done when they can\u2019t see their employees at all times.<\/p>\n

Defining mobility and providing the why<\/h3>\n

As you encounter resistance, it will be important to clarify what you mean by mobility because it can mean different things to different people or companies. Will everyone have an assigned station, but there will be additional places they can choose to work? Will teams have their own assigned spaces, but employees will flex where they sit within the team space on a dayto-day basis? Or will the strategy feature all unassigned spaces where people have the opportunity to sit wherever they would prefer across the campus? People will need to understand your approach.<\/p>\n

People will also need to know why you\u2019re shifting to a mobile strategy. Many companies shift to mobility to optimize real estate or increase density. Today\u2019s offices are typically underutilized, so mobility is an approach to make better use of the space. If you\u2019ve studied your space and have data<\/a> to demonstrate low utilization and prove the need for change, this is ideal. Quantitative proof of the business case can be especially compelling.<\/p>\n

Beyond density, many companies are also seeking to enhance employee wellbeing in which they support the physical, cognitive and emotional needs of employees<\/a> by providing greater amounts of variety and choice in their space<\/a>\u2014giving people more control over where they work throughout the day. Any of these or other reasons for the change are valid\u2014just be transparent with people about why the changes are coming.<\/p>\n

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Learn more<\/a>\u00a0about Change Management and our Applied Research and Consulting team.<\/p>\n

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Getting people on board<\/h3>\n

An effective work experience is holistic, encompassing culture, process, tools and space to achieve desired outcomes.<\/p>\n

Likewise, mobility is related to all of these. You\u2019ll want to be sure people have all kinds of spaces to support their work process and diverse modes of work in which they can focus, collaborate, learn, socialize and rejuvenate. Capable technology and tools help ensure less friction throughout the day, especially when people are moving around the campus to accomplish their work. In addition, a culture that affords people permissions to work in multiple areas based on the work they must accomplish is also important to success.<\/p>\n

As you\u2019re shifting to a work experience that includes mobility, here are some tips to help you increase people\u2019s acceptance to it.<\/p>\n