Michael Page - eBook - Adapting is Thriving | Page 3

Introduction
Embracing
disruption
and adapting
to thrive
Welcome to Adapting is Thriving, a collection of short
essays from leading thinkers in the employment space,
plotting the course for the future of work in a postpandemic
world. Curated in partnership with Future
Talent Group, these articles explore what we believe to be the four
priority areas right now for organisations of all sizes:
● People and talent
● Evolving working practices
● Workspace innovation
● Leadership capability
Although the essays encompass a range of opinions and perspectives,
what unites them is a belief that organisations of all sizes should not
be aiming simply to survive the fallout from COVID-19, but focused on
how to adapt in order to thrive. You should never let a good crisis go
to waste, as the saying goes…
From a personal perspective, 2020 has been one of the most challenging
years of my career so far, as I’m sure it has been for many. As a business,
switching overnight to working entirely remotely was a huge test, but
one we passed with flying colours. Our next imperative was to adapt
our services to support customers. Clearly, as a recruiter, in-person
interactions are a bedrock of our business. However, we have been
able to leverage technology, including video platforms and assessment
tools, to allow our clients and candidates to navigate the hiring process
entirely remotely.
The pandemic has also changed the types of roles we hire for. In
some cases, this is only temporary but sectors such as healthcare and
technology will be more of a focus for us as a business going forward.
Organisations of all
sizes shoud not be
aiming simply to
survive the fallout
from COVID-19,
but focused on
how to adapt in
order to thrive
At times of crisis, I believe it is more important than ever to listen to your
customers, and we did this by running pulse surveys as the pandemic
unfolded. You can view some of the key findings below, but what is
clear is that we are already seeing noticeable shifts in attitudes and
expectations. For example, leaders told us they were adopting more
agile decision-making processes and encouraging employees to break
down typical communication chains to help decentralise decision making.
Meanwhile, employee expectations have also been evolving. It is
undeniable that an increase in homeworking will be one long term
legacy of the pandemic, but our research shows that many workers
are relishing a return to the office and value the in-person interaction
it brings.
It will be interesting to see how employers tackle the challenges of
managing a blended workforce, and the role that offices will play
from now on – not least because these are pertinent topics for us, at
PageGroup, too. We are also having to adapt in order to thrive – and are
committed to helping our customers do the same with their business.
Our consultants are available via email, landlines, mobiles and video to
assist you in all of your recruitment needs. You can also get in touch
and request a call back by clicking here.
Above all else, we wish you, and those close to you, good health at
this challenging time.
Nick Kirk, UK Managing Director, PageGroup
Nick Kirk is the UK Managing Director of PageGroup, covering
its Michael Page, Page Personnel, Page Executive and Page
Outsourcing brands. Having worked within the business for 25
years, Nick firmly believes in the importance of experiencing new
environments to challenge his own thinking, which in turn helps
him to bring new ideas into PageGroup.
30%
70%
70%
of professionals are reassessing
their career options and priorities*
3 in 5
individuals want to be able to work
from home more than previously*
50%
1/2
of businesses have identified
skills gaps at the senior and
middle-management level**
50%
1/3
of leaders expect to reduce
their office space **
40%
60%
of staff are looking forward to
a return to the office***
60%
*PageGroup candidate pulse survey. Results include responses from 1-12 July.
**Results based on a survey of 103 UK C-suite leader s and directors conducted May/June 2020.
*** PageGroup survey conducted throughout June aimed at job seekers in the market.