It wasn’t long ago that most people only had access to a few channels on their TVs, news was still mainly read in newspapers, and the idea of using a telephone to watch videos via the Internet was a pipe-dream. It just goes to show how quickly things can change in the media industry, and today, they’re changing quicker than ever before.
The pace of change isn’t just restricted to how the public consumes and accesses content, though: it goes much further than that to encompass the way people live and work, and the technologies available to them. Whether the future direction of travel is known or not, media companies the world over must be on the pulse of change so they can respond quickly and maintain their relevance.
Part of doing that is understanding the evolution of how employees within media organizations work. Ultimately, a flexible approach to working and workspaces is a win-win situation: employees get closer to the work-life balance they want, and employers can keep their options open for the challenges ahead.
So, how can you achieve this flexible nirvana within your organization?
Here are four tips that can set you on the right track:
1. Let people work how they want
Many employees working within the media industry are creative people who are passionate about the work they do. As part of this, they feel strongly about having the right environment to be as creative and productive as possible. Fencing them into a nine-to-five office environment can be a serious inhibitor to this creativity.
If employees feel they can express themselves and think outside the box better by working from home, then they should have the ability to do so, especially in the current climate. At the same time, if they need to visit the office for a meeting with like-minded co-workers, they should be able to do that, too. A flexible working model where employees can book workspaces as and when they need them will give them the freedom they crave.
2. Give them the tools they need to connect
The ability to come together in a shared meeting space is just one part of making flexible collaboration happen successfully. It also requires coordination between employees to ensure they’re available at mutually convenient times, and the easy ability for employees working remotely to connect to meetings and breakouts virtually.
A good workspace booking solution will encompass all of these needs in a single solution that enables quick-fire collaboration for responding to new demands. A meeting organizer can not only secure an appropriate meeting space, and ensure it’s equipped with all required video conferencing tools, but they can also see the schedules of each attendee and quickly select a time that is good for everyone.
3. Foster a strong, positive culture
It goes without saying that happy workers are productive workers. Those who are enjoying what they’re doing, enjoy connecting with their co-workers, and who have strong working relationships are therefore valuable assets to an organization.
That’s why, under a flexible working model, workspaces shouldn’t just be about formal meetings. They can also be used for socializing, team-building and other events that help develop a better company culture: something that can easily be lost when workforces operate only from home and never meet up in person.
Workspace booking can easily take these needs into account.
4. Make attracting top talent easier
In the media industry perhaps more than most, the very best in talented employees are a highly prized commodity, and they tend to be highly aware of their value. They are hard to attract, and perhaps even harder to retain. Being able to offer flexibility and a healthy approach to work-life balance can therefore be a stand-out attribute for your organization in a competitive job market.
Those who can leverage all the above tips and demonstrate how employees have control of their day-to-day, how and where they collaborate, and how corporate culture is strengthened will look good to top talent. And showing how easy and seamless it all is, thanks to integrated workspace booking, might just make the difference when they come to choose their next employer.
