20 LISTENING TO OUR DIRECTORS AND PRINCIPALS | BDO LLP
WORKING PATTERNS AND AGILE WORKING
There was appreciation of BDO’s flexibility and ‘no pressure’ approach to the C-19 roadmap, as ‘people don’t want extra pressure placed on them.’ There is also eagerness to get into the details of how agile working will work – and a keenness to see the framework and guidance when it is ready.
In the meantime, the groups discussed that they can start to do their personal reflections and continue team conversations about this, as it will be a long process of behaviour change and experimentation All groups acknowledged the role that our culture and trust has played in team success during lockdown People have had diverse experiences: some have had a wonderful experience working from home; others have had the opposite People have become honest about the bad habits they’ve adopted The Directors and Principals discussed that their role as team leaders is to give team members permission and encouragement to address that. For example, asking them how they ‘book-end’ their days so they switch on and off from work whilst at home The groups said that we all need each other’s help and thoughts to keep dealing with this. It’s both personal and collective responsibility for how we each adapt and help others adapt again to work out what our ‘productive patterns’ are and, if they feel they need it, that they have the permission to build new routines
And that – as Directors and future partners of the business – they can role model the right behaviours by showing good behaviours, who they really are, and their vulnerability We also need to keep close to our clients to understand how they want to be worked with It currently feels that every interaction we have is scheduled due to Microsoft Teams meetings. There is recognition that this will start to shift in the next phase which will ease some of the intensity The Principals in particular called out that they had missed the ‘photocopier/watercooler’ moments – for relationship-building, business development and socialising There were concerns shared about people’s skills development in a remote world, with a specific example shared where individuals’ development has slowed because of a lack of face-to-face coaching or ‘learning by osmosis’ The group discussed how we can help seniors to understand the need for them to play their part in agile working to help develop the trainees.
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