Want a workforce that is more motivated, focused and productive?

UK workers have many unmet needs - and not only is addressing them the right thing to do, it needs to happen in order for businesses to run effectively. This is what my white paper 'The Future of Work: how to be an organisation that thrives' reveals.

Among the themes which came up when respondents were asked, “what do you think organisations should be doing to be better places to work?”, are a need to be given time to be listened to, and to feel like they are valued and their needs are prioritised. An organisation is nothing without its people and the way it is run should reflect this.

Half of UK workers think their relationships with people at work could be better.

This is having a detrimental effect on businesses since my research also shows if you want a workforce that is more motivated, focused and productive the people who work for you need to have good relationships with each other.

This is also the conclusion of research by strategic insight consultancy Opinium, which reveals that of the HR decision makers that reported an increase in productivity during the pandemic, 67% said people strategy is a priority at their business. Only 7% of those that said people strategy was not a priority reported an increase in productivity.

I interviewed Sara Maude, Managing Director of The Mind Solution, who works with organisations from all over the world to help them to look after their employees and get the most out of them. She says that if you want a workforce that is more motivated, focused and productive you need to equip your staff with the knowledge they need to build strong relationships, through teaching them how to communicate effectively and how to understand themselves better.

Maureen Chiana, Neuroleadership & Resilience Consultant says she sees a lot of leaders, managers and organisations who need to understand how to lead with emotional intelligence, by focusing on the people and running an organisation that is more human.

Mona Balasubramanian, who is an expert in improving workplace culture at consultancy Gallup, says it is important to create leaders who meet employees need for:

· Trust, which is garnered through being kept informed about what is going on

· Compassion, by wellbeing being cared for

· Stability, through being well prepared to do their job

· Hope, through leadership communicating a clear plan of action

Through understanding employees needs and their current experiences in the workplace, and looking at this alongside advice from experts and case studies of organisations who have adopted innovative initiatives, we can improve workplaces.

In my white paper ‘Future of work: how to be an organisation that thrives’ I cover in detail what workers unmet needs are, and how to address them. I present an array of inspiring opportunities for organisations to innovate in ways that benefit their employees, as well as society and the environment – since this is what is needed for them to truly thrive in the future. You can find the white paper here.