How a digital workplace can transform an organisation’s culture

For many organisations, the first lockdown in March 2020 meant a shift in working culture. Leadership teams were faced with the difficulty of ensuring all employees and volunteers were digitally capable of continuing work, while also managing their mental health.

The workplace no longer constituted the office, but multiple bedrooms, living rooms, and kitchens – wherever people could find solace within their homes. Work entered the private space and the private space quickly became public.

The changes in the workplace demanded a shift from leadership teams, too. Leaders are expected to understand the difficult situation employees find themselves in, as has been reflected in recent studies.

Research commissioned by Workplace from Facebook, for example, demonstrated that UK employees are increasingly demanding empathetic leaders since the beginning of the pandemic. More than half of employees (58%) stated that they would consider leaving their job if a leadership style has a direct negative impact on their personal wellbeing and happiness at work.

Employees are demanding a culture that strays away from impersonal and tough leaders. For leaders, however, checking in on mental health can be difficult when you can’t see people in person. We spoke with Stuart Murphy, the CEO of the English National Opera (ENO) about how digital enabled him to maintain a thriving community within the organisation using Workplace from Facebook.

Creating a positive culture through Workplace from Facebook

The ENO started using Workplace from Facebook in January 2020, but it wasn’t until lockdown hit that the platform became essential. Workplace from Facebook is a tool that enables collaborative working, video conferencing, and groupwork, while retaining its most recognisable features, such as instant messaging and posts.

The ENO uses the tool to continue sharing important information with relevant team members and for general work purposes. Stuart has also introduced something a little more light-hearted for the team. Once a week, staff can share something more personal, which ranges from sharing record collections to cute pictures of dogs to what got them into opera.

Opera and music continue to play a vital part of the online community, as pianists and singers sometimes post videos of themselves performing (even in strange environments like the bath) onto Workplace.

Stuart felt that this tool helped democratise the workplace, as people who might not have usually spoken in meetings were able to contribute to the organisation’s voice through an easy post or comment. The team also found out more about their organisation as a whole, such as common interests and traits with one another.

The leadership team had been working for several years to make the ENO a flatter, more open company where diversity of opinion and expression are celebrated – and Workplace solidified this goal. As Stuart said: “Because we’re a company where our bread and butter is emotion, and people feel at their best only when they feel safe to be themselves…it 100% made us a better company.”