It’s blindingly obvious, but still ignored
An astonishing amount of research conducted worldwide answers questions to which we all intuitively know the answer. Howstuffworks.com offers a delightful top-10 list of the best (or worst) of these, with findings such as “high heels can make your feet hurt”, “sword swallowing can be dangerous” and “employees hate meetings”.
But the fact that the average person, or business leader, ignores the obvious underlines the need for conducting this type of research.
That thought came to mind last week when HP released global findings that show most knowledge workers have an unhealthy relationship with work.
Most people’s first reaction to this blindingly obvious truth would be an eyerolling “Really?” Yes, really. And the obvious is ignored by most leaders.
The first HP Work Relationship Index, a comprehensive study of employees’ relationships with work around the world, surveyed more than 15,600 people across various industries. It found the world’s relationship with work is at breaking point.
The study analysed, among numerous aspects, employees’ expectations of leadership and the impact work has on employee wellbeing, productivity, engagement and culture.
It found that just 27% of knowledge workers have a healthy relationship with work.
It also shows employees’ expectations of work have increased significantly, particularly over the past two to three years, and identified six critical areas where improvement was demanded:
1. Fulfilment: Employees yearn for purpose, empowerment and genuine connection to their work, though just 29% of knowledge workers experience these aspects consistently.
2. Leadership: New ways of working demand new leadership styles, according to 68% of business leaders, yet only one in five workers feels leaders have evolved their leadership styles accordingly.
3. People-centricity: Only 25% of knowledge workers consistently receive the respect and value they feel they deserve, and even fewer are experiencing the flexibility, autonomy and work-life balance they seek.
4. Skills: While 70% of knowledge workers value strong power and technical skills, only 31% feel consistently confident in their proficiency in either.
5. Tools: Today’s workers want a say in the technology and tools their employer provides, and for that technology to be inclusive. However, confidence that companies will implement the right tools to support hybrid work lies at just 25%.
6. Workspace: Knowledge workers want a seamless experience between work locations and a choice where they work each day. Effective hybrid workspaces, easy transitions, flexibility and autonomy will be pivotal.
“There is a huge opportunity to strengthen the world’s relationship with work in ways that are good for people and good for business,” said Enrique Lores, president and CEO of HP. “As leaders, we must always reject the false choice between productivity and happiness. The most successful companies are built on cultures that enable employees to excel in their careers while thriving outside work.”
What can be done? The authors of the report offer advice that is obvious, but not straightforward. They say business leaders should cultivate emotional intelligence and transparent, empathetic leadership, and they must place visible emphasis on putting people first and placing their teams at the centre of decision-making.
The reasons why this would benefit business are also obvious: a high proportion of knowledge workers report less productivity, more disengagement at work and greater feelings of disconnection. Even when they feel neutral about their relationship with work, more than 71% consider leaving the company. When they’re not happy at all, that number rises to 91%.
As they say in the classics: “Really?” But as obvious as all this is, the truth is that it’s likely to be ignored by most business leaders — or at least those who still want meetings for the sake of having meetings, despite all the research warning them of the consequences.