Much of the recent attention around the future of the workplace has indicated a somewhat gloomy outlook. Talk of the Great Resignation has been making its way into the news ever since the phrase entered the zeitgeist back in May 2021, giving the impression that employees are still not happy in their current jobs, leaving companies floundering.
Following the unprecedented number of employees resigning and seeking jobs elsewhere, meaningful organisational transformation has become essential. Businesses must find ways to retain employees and attract new talent to combat the effects of the Great Resignation. But how?
The concept and successful execution of more flexible, dynamic teams is one way in which businesses are redefining the nature of the workplace and encouraging more efficient, beneficial ways of working.
What is a Cross-Functional, Dynamic Team?
A cross-functional team refers to a group of people from various departments in a company who work towards a shared goal or project and disband once the targets are met.
The dynamic team is made up of people with different skills and approaches, all pooling their resources to get the job done in the most efficient way possible. This does away with the need for traditional hierarchies, focusing instead on assigning people with the right skills rather than filtering down through the usual group hierarchy.
Teams with Hierarchy
The concept of non-hierarchical structures is by no means anything new, but it has become more relevant recently as the age of the pandemic called for more flexible, outcome-based solutions.
When employees are given the opportunity to step away from more rigid job roles and hierarchies and are supported by the technology that makes this possible. there are numerous benefits to reap, both for them and their employers.
How are More Dynamic Teams Beneficial for Employers?
As already touched upon, a more flexible approach to workplace teams could be an effective tool in combating the Great Resignation, but how else could businesses benefit from the adoption of dynamic teams?
Increased Efficiency & Project Success
These teams target the best people for the job rather than turning to perhaps the most ‘obvious’ existing teams. This often means that goals are met more successfully and efficiently because the right resources and skills are allocated at the start of the project.
Increased Diversity
Opening new opportunities up to more people also encourages you to build a more inclusive and diverse workplace environment, recognising talent where it is and not where you think it should be.
Traditional hierarchies come with their own set of biases, so these groups can be seen to challenge more restricted thinking and develop teams that might not have existed under a more rigid structure.
Retain & Attract Staff
You’re more likely to retain staff and keep them excited about working for you if you provide opportunities for them to develop and learn new skills.
By offering this as a possibility, you also make your business more attractive to prospective employees and new talent that could take your organisation to new heights.
Encourages Organisational Adaptability
The need to remain flexible and adaptable was one of the primary lessons learnt when dealing with the many problems posed by the pandemic.
Making changes to the organisational structure and operation of a company (like the introduction of more efficient, dynamic teams) shows that businesses are willing to adapt for the long term and put the need for workplace transformation into practice.
How are More Dynamic Teams Beneficial for Employees?
The opportunity to work on a cross-functional team without a traditional hierarchy can be valuable for a number of reasons.
Strengthening Networks
Working on a team with people involved in different disciplines helps employees strengthen their professional network and could potentially expose them to leaders that need their skills for additional projects but have not worked with them before.
Growth & Development
Another key benefit of working on a more flexible, dynamic team is the opportunity for employees to grow and become more engaged with their personal and professional development.
The nature of cross-functional teams means individuals have to be adaptable. This, among working more closely with other departments, allows them to develop new skills.
On a team that is less focused on job titles, employees can also experience more visibility in their position, allowing them to shine, show their value and demonstrate their strengths in new ways.
Increased Job Satisfaction
Employee wellbeing is vital nowadays, and the increased number of resignations during and after the pandemic shows that people are less willing to stay in a job they are not satisfied with.
Working on these kinds of projects can help give people a greater understanding of their skills, showcasing their individual value to the team and increasing job satisfaction.
For businesses struggling to keep their best asset – their employees – deploying cross-functional and dynamic teams could be part of the solution.
As cost reduction specialists, we have worked with countless businesses to help them overcome the struggles the past few years have thrown at all of us. We provide solutions for a range of industries, offering support and advice to strengthen your cost management and optimisation strategies.
Get in touch with the ERA team today to find out what we could do for you.