Being forced to change never changed anyone

I had a brief back-and-forth when I was deciding to write this post. For one, I'm not sure anyone cares to listen to my ramblings while the world is having a meltdown. I also might have ruffled some feathers with my last post, and rattled a few cages. Some might consider it a good sign, that I'm fighting the good fight.

The things I say in this blog are my own opinions; ideas and observations that swirl in my brain. These opinions will not force industrialists to change, but the new force majeure that is upon us already has.

I tried to resist following the trend and talking about the novel coronavirus, but it has transformed my daily life as much as it has yours.

Every professional is talking about the adjustment of working from home, but nobody is talking about the realities of our industry that it is revealing.

Forced change is a reaction

Normal operations have been thrown out the window, and companies are being forced to adapt in order to continue their operations. Some, however, are seeking new ways to uphold the status quo.

"We are being forced to work remotely"

A short sentence that holds hidden meanings, that I shall unfold at the risk of angering some.

Describing it as "remote work" shows a rigid mindset. Resistance to the evolution of the concept of work itself. Doing the same tasks through the proxy of the internet is like trying to change the TV channel with a broomstick: Its slow, unwieldy and there is, frankly, a more suitable way to change a channel.

While these businesses are too busy complaining that a broomstick is slowing down their operations, others have been using that nice remote controller ever since it was invented.

They took action long before anything forced them to react. They saw the benefits of changing how their business operates and taking advantage of the internet.

Nobody forced you to cling to archaic office-based micromanagement. Nobody forced you to become entrenched in best practices that propelled businesses in the 1980s. Nobody forced you to resist becoming an agile operation that is not shackled by a physical location.

We are poised for a failed revolution

All the variables are aligned to allow a change in work culture. But like a cockroach in nuclear fallout, Micromanagement and mistrust will still be very much alive when this catastrophe subsides.

Rigid management concepts have produced a whole generation of typical managers. These managers are fierce, aggressive, and belligerent. But most importantly, they are ready to sacrifice the business in the hopes of upholding their raison d'etre as managers.

What is the use of a slave driver if our society abolishes slavery? What is the use of a boss if everyone is incentivized to produce instead of being forced to fill timesheets?

People never change, and businesses are run by people. New startups are embracing true remote work, they are shaping the future of the industry. It is only a matter of time before these managers will run old businesses into the ground and out of the market.

Changing how we understand work

Traditional businesses already have true remote workers in their midst. Your outdoor sales team is proof that there are mechanisms to enable workers to be freed of the office.

Sales teams across the world are compensated on results: Commissions based on hitting sales targets. Then why is your internal team compensated for office hours instead?

Sales personnel need to be close to their customers, so businesses are forced to accept their sales team working remotely. The formula is proven to work, all you have to do is adapt it to other functions.

No, I am not saying other jobs should be commission-based. However, Remote jobs should become similar to freelance work: Deliverables instead of office hours. Workers are incentivized to produce and Employers are not paying for wasted time. Trust stops being a factor, and wasted time will only result in a delay in deadlines.

Remote work is not the future for everyone

The advent of the digital age can lull us into a false belief that all jobs can be performed from home. While administrative functions are arguably possible in a remote setting, not all industries can make the transition. Manufacturing Plants still need operators and managers, food kitchens still need chefs and the service industry is going nowhere.

So take a step back and analyze your business. Maybe this pandemic is the perfect excuse to embrace remote work for your team permanently.

I'm working from home this week, as I have always wanted. But I have a feeling I might break my TV screen with this broomstick.

Are you working from home? Share your experience in the comments. And stay safe!