People before productivity: The power of putting people first

No matter how you choose to work, the way you enable your people to do their best work and keep them engaged is continually changing.

Your people are your best asset, yet so many employers overlook the critical role people play in the overall productivity of their business and its bottom line. Putting the needs of employees above productivity should be one of the biggest considerations for organisational health and culture.   

While building a people-first culture won’t happen overnight, taking the steps today will set your business up for future success.

Building a people-first culture in the modern workplace

As the name suggests, a people-first culture refers to a culture that strives to always put people first by creating a flexible workplace environment that considers and fulfils the needs of your most important assets: your employees. Building a people-first culture requires you to take a step back, rethink your people strategy, and adopt new values into business strategies to create a favourable and transparent workplace environment. 

The core drivers of company culture are changing as the workplace continuously evolves and becomes more physically disconnected than ever before.

Secure, modern technology creates new connection points to foster workplace culture by providing employees with the right tools, technologies, and training to ensure they can connect and collaborate anywhere. For example, Surface devices equipped with Intel processors, and the suite of collaboration tools within Microsoft 365, including Microsoft Teams, OneNote, and Planner empower employees to meet, create, and collaborate effectively no matter where they’re physically located. 

Technology adoption that supports flexibility and collaboration

With the right portfolio of technology designed with flexibility in mind, you can make a difference in meeting the needs of your hybrid workforce and enhance the employee experience. To truly realise the benefits of technology, you must empower your team both as individuals and as a group. You can do this through continual coaching and training to develop digital skills and expand their technological mindset. 

Once you have the right tools, technology, and training in place to build your employee-centric workplace, you can:  

• deliver better employee experiences that empower people to excel in their roles  
• encourage and support collaboration and connections to foster a sense of inclusion among all employees
• streamline workflows and enhance productivity with the power and performance to get tasks done. 

In addition, touch devices equipped with digital pens have become a common tool in the modern workplace. They offer a range of benefits, including the ability to mark up documents, take notes, and facilitate collaboration among colleagues. By leveraging these features, employees can work more efficiently and effectively, leading to better outcomes. 

Creating and cultivating a people-first culture in the workplace needs a conscious effort with a long-term commitment, particularly from leadership. Regularly assessing and improving the workplace culture based on employee feedback can help ensure that it aligns with the organisation’s goals and benefits all employees. 

The real impact of employee disengagement

There’s no greater factor impacting your work environment than disengaged employees. Lack of employee engagement often leads to reduced productivity, lower quality of work, and increased turnover — issues that can make a real impact on your bottom line. According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace: 2022 Report, employees who are not engaged or actively disengaged cost approximately US$7.8 trillion in lost productivity globally.1  

Employees may become disengaged in the workforce for a variety of reasons, including a lack of employee connection, limited or not fit-for-purpose technology, minimal recognition from management, few opportunities for growth, and a lack of flexibility. Factors such as job insecurity, financial stress, and burnout can also lead to disengagement. To address these challenges, investing in training and digital skills can help employees stay engaged and connected with their work. 

How ASI Solutions supports employee experience in the flexible workplace 

At ASI Solutions, we know how important it is to enhance the employee experience and are committed to delivering better experiences that empower people to do their best anytime, anywhere. That’s why we partner with leading technology vendors like Microsoft and Intel. Together, we provide the right portfolio of technology, designed with flexibility in mind, that can make a difference in meeting the needs of a flexible, more productive, and efficient workforce.  

To further support the employee experience and cultivate a culture that cares, the ASI Solutions Training Team offers coaching and training backed by research that can help you harness your team’s potential to achieve greater productivity and flexibility. ASI Solutions Training Programs are designed to walk teams through relevant devices and software, from the basics through to more advanced skills, grounding their personal digital development.  

For more information on how we can help your business put people before productivity with the right tools, technologies, and training in the flexible workplace, visit the ASI Solutions Resource Hub, or contact the team today.