Like it or not, business has changed a great deal in the past 10 years. Post-covid we are under immense amounts of financial pressure on one side, yet experimenting with the 4-day week and working flexibly on the other. The world of work is rapidly being reimagined! Having been in business for over 3 decades I have seen huge changes in what is possible, in terms of business.
In this blog we take a look at conventions in business to answer the question: are outdated conventions holding your business back? Here are some examples of how things are changing.
- Strict dress codes: Smart casual dress codes are becoming the norm in most workplaces, even in traditional industries. I always wore a suit, collar, and tie to work throughout most of my career in London (twelve years). Even when the weather was hot, there were no other options. Perhaps on a Friday afternoon, we might loosen our ties and get away with it! These days, while a suit and tie may still be required for client meetings or presentations in more formal settings, a more relaxed dress code is generally accepted (or expected) elsewhere, particularly in the self-employed world. How we dress is not seen as a reflection of our performance at work as it once was. Personal choice and comfort seem to be taking priority.
- Traditional hierarchies: Many companies are now moving towards a flatter organisational structure, with more emphasis on collaboration between management and their team members. There are a host of benefits to this approach, such as faster decision-making and improved communication, but might also be seen as less appealing to prospective employees as there are fewer progression opportunities.
- In-person meetings: With the rise of video platforms such as Zoom, there is less need for in-person meetings, especially where distance is a factor. Meeting online can save time and money on travel, but may not always be the best option for relationship building. Personally, although phone calls and Zoom are useful for catching up with clients and/or meeting people where travel could be prohibitive, there’s something more going on in a face-to-face meeting, for building trust and creating the foundations for a solid working relationship.
- The traditional 9-5: With the increase in hybrid or fully remote roles and more flexible approaches to working hours, the traditional 9-to-5 workday is no longer the norm for many businesses. Although employees may be expected to be present for ‘core hours’, outside of this many companies are offering increased flexibility. For those of us that are self-employed, we have the option to reject the 9-5 workday completely if we are brave enough! For me, it went out the window years ago. For example, sometimes I’ll work from my bed, the car, or a cafe if I’m meeting a client. Other times I’ll work from my home or garden office. I’ve even been known to send an email from a ski lift whilst on holiday!
What about your business – how many of these conventions are you holding onto and why? How many have you let go? The key in every case is to consider first, how these conventions came about and then, who those conventions are serving. Does holding onto a more traditional approach serve you and your business, or are they holding you back? I meet many people who still hold onto views such as:
“I have to work X hours a week”
“I have to have an office”
“I have to have a London phone number”
However, given the trends we looked at above, it begs the question: In 2024, what do you really need to run a business? And what conventions, if any, do you actually need to follow, to be successful?
