The wars of talent and control

It will become more and more visible ... organisations and leaders who talk flexibility and agility but the reality is still command and control. 

As employees return to the office - or not - the power dynamic is shifting on topics like flexibility and engagement. 

Questions come to mind like: 

➡️ If a company needs particular skills, does it matter where those skills live? 

➡️ Can people work remotely? All the time? 

➡️ Why should people come into the office? What will the true benefit be to them if they do? 

➡️ If people don’t get the flexibility they’re seeking, who else is offering it?

There is an equaling of the balance or see-saw occurring. 

From times when the organisation and its leaders had the power and control, now, towards times when people who have a greater freedom of choice in front of them are exercising that choice. 

Why should people work with your organisation? Or with you as a leader? 

This article from Newsweek by Yuri Kruman, explores the topic more.

An empty email box is the wrong measure of productivity

And likely a waste of time. I think it’s crazy that we would try to get to the bottom of our email inboxes and empty them as a priority.

Yes there are are fans of it, religious fanatics of getting to 'zero'. It’s an accomplishment indeed ... and damn it if we humans aren’t fired up, inspired and encouraged by progress we make. It makes us feel neat and tidy and organised and we know what's going on.

The control freak in us loves the control we gain over all that information, flicking it off to folders or ticking it off for filing or trash. But here's the question: how are you progressing on your goals, projects and initiatives? The stuff that really matters? I get it that an empty email inbox might seriously matter to you.

But might you possibly, maybe, potentially, be using the time and activity of "controlling" email as a distraction or procrastination from time spent on other more worthy, worthwhile and noble projects?

I'm not suggesting ignoring your email; but what's the measure of success with all your other projects?

Reply all with your thoughts! 😜 Are you a fan of living in your email inbox or are you facing out, making progress on other projects?