SPRING 2022 / REAL-LEADERS.COM 23 LEADERSHIP “VIRTUAL WORKPLACES WILL GET SMARTER …WAY SMARTER.” Many leaders think that they’ve recreated their physical workplace into a virtual one with a corporate Zoom package and a Slack subscription. The reality is, it isn’t that easy. Leaders will need to be smart as they set about building a digital equivalence to something physical that took decades to refine. They’ll also need help. Most leaders wouldn’t contemplate asking Bill in HR or Jenny in IT to come up with designing a new office, but for many, that’s exactly who is being tasked with curating their virtual workplace. I expect to see an entirely new category of specialists emerge, people who create advanced digital workplaces. These next-generation, virtual work environments won’t necessarily be curated with all new technologies (let’s be honest, there’s a lot of those already) but could skilfully combine existing platforms with evolved processes and leadership practices. The goal? To build trusting, collaborative teams that can drive together productivity and innovation — from bedrooms to boardrooms. “IMPACT LEADERS WILL BE CHALLENGED TO HAVE IMPACT.” Speaking in May 2021 at a New York conference hosted by the Wall Street Journal, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon (pictured above) aired his view on why JP employees should all return to the workplace. In his view, by the following September or October, “It will look just like it did before, and everyone’s going to be happy with it.” The inescapable truth is that, while a return to the office for Dimon and other JPMorgan employees would be a welcome resumption, for others, it would undoubtedly represent a significant step backward. Corporate leaders tend to come from privileged groups, making it harder to appreciate the realities of in-person work environments for those who experience many physical or social impediments. For many, a virtual environment levels the playing field. Working in a non-physical workplace allows people not to be judged physically. Recognizing that a one-size workplace doesn’t fit all is step one. Decisively acting on it to create new and dynamic structures that work for diverse teams is step two and what impactful leaders will be increasingly challenged to do. “MORE CORPORATIONS WILL GET IN THE RING.” In September 2021, Salesforce, a company with a global workforce of more than 56,000 people, led by CEO Marc Benioff (pictured above), offered to relocate Texas-based employees and their families after a Texas abortion law went into effect. While not directly commenting on the law itself, Salesforce took a vocal, public stand by recognizing and respecting deeply held and different world views. “If you have concerns about access to reproductive healthcare in your state, Salesforce will help relocate you and members of your immediate family,” they told employees. Throwing substantial corporate weight into the ring to back consequential causes or counter perceived injustices will, in my opinion, continue to be a growing trend with the lead taken by brands such as Salesforce but also brands such as Ben & Jerry’s, Patagonia, Lyft, Levis, and others. They will set a standard for others to follow. n Jessica Nordlander is COO at community intelligence software company Thoughtexchange. She is an ex-Googler, former chief digital officer for global travel group STS Education, and former managing director for SaaS growth wonder Meltwater. CHIP SOMODEV I LLA / GETTY IMAGES SALESFORCE
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