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Judging level of commitment by start and finish times -

In the past, employees who arrived the earliest and stayed the latest were viewed as 'more dedicated' or 'more ambitious' than others. Today employees are judged more on their output than how many hours they're in a physical office or online.

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Running others over -

Out are the days of people running over anyone and everyone to get to the top. People have realized that no one wants to be led by a person like this. Today it's more acceptable to connect as humans and with empathy.

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Not valuing being in each other’s presence -

When colleagues are in the office, it's important to value the spontaneous meetings and interactions that occur in an office setting.

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Remote flexibility -

Though things have shifted since the pandemic, companies with office space will likely make employees come into the office at some point or another, even if it's not every day. 

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Trying to make the workplace a second home -

In the past, companies have tried to give employees attractive, comfy places to unwind after work. While these can be nice during work hours, it's unrealistic to think employees want to spend all their time there at work.

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Giving everyone the same treatment -

Gone are the days of treating everyone the same. It's important for businesses today to bring humans back to business and realize that there's not a cookie-cutter approach.

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Always working in a physical office -

Since COVID-19, the mindsets of employees have shifted drastically. Many people are no longer willing to commute to an office at all, let alone multiple times a week. They are drawn to remote work environments, and often, it's all they'll consider.

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Incentivizing a return to the office -

Incentivizing employees to return to the office after COVID-19 seems to be fading. A lot of employers tried this method and are now fed up and making demands instead of incentivizing. 

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Using a ‘feedback sandwich’ method -

A feedback sandwich is where a manager provides positive feedback, then sandwiches a more negative observation in the middle and finishes everything with the positive again. This old-school method is on its way out. Managers should aim to give direct feedback and share observations in a more forthcoming way.

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Noncompete agreements -

There is a societal shift towards fostering innovation and talent mobility, and noncompete agreements that limit employees are being used less every day.

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Telling employees what to do -

The leadership trend of merely issuing commands is fading fast. Today's successful leaders are emotionally intelligent, empathetic, and focused on understanding and managing relationships with employees.

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Hierarchical decision-making -

More hierarchical decision-making is becoming less common in workplaces, while autonomy for leaders is now preferred, as it enhances engagement, motivation, and performance.

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Tenure being indicative of competence or performance -

Relying on tenure as a measure of competence or performance is becoming nonexistent. Organizations are now recognizing that true performance and results are the only reliable indicators of capability.

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Limiting feedback to annual reviews -

Limiting feedback to annual reviews is falling out of favor. Employees seek regular feedback to understand their performance and align with team goals, reducing turnover and enhancing engagement.

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Always aiming for efficiency -

Efficiency can be good in some instances, but it's slowly fading out and being replaced by more complex interactions and stronger human connections.

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Providing low-value perks -

Low-value perks like foosball tables, snacks, and other in-office gimmicks aren't needed or appreciated anymore. Employees care much more about culture and meaningful work.

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Alcohol-fueled happy hours and holiday parties -

Covid and hybrid work environments have made work events in the evenings much less appealing. Additionally, fewer people are drinking today and are trying out sober lifestyles. Thus, these parties or celebrations are often a miss.

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Strict dress codes -

In a lot of workplaces, it used to be the norm to have to wear professional clothes or even suits to the office. Today, organizations are becoming much more lenient and even encouraging people to dress more comfortably.

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Mandatory meetings -

Mandatory meetings are a waste of many people's time. Companies are making more effort to meet only if absolutely necessary and with applicable employees.

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Rigid 9-to-5 schedule -

The traditional 9-to-5 work schedule is falling out of favor as more organizations take on flexible work hours. Remote work and flexible hours are replacing the rigid schedule, allowing employees to work when they are productive.

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Cubicle-only office design -

Cubicle-only office designs are being replaced by open, collaborative workspaces. These spaces foster communication and teamwork. Modern offices now incorporate flexible layouts with a mix of private and communal areas.

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One-size-fits-all training programs -

Generic training programs are becoming outdated as companies move towards personalized, targeted learning experiences that address individual needs.

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Paper-based processes -

Paper-based processes are being phased out in favor of digital solutions that offer greater efficiency. Electronic documentation and automated workflows are replacing paper methods.

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Seniority-based promotions -

In the past, companies used to promote one person, and they'd continue to rise in the ranks regardless of whether they were the most capable person or not. Today, it's much more common to evaluate performance and results when hiring.

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Strict email etiquette -

There used to be a much more professional tone demanded in email etiquette. While professionalism is still important today, there's a bit more leniency with verbiage and a more casual tone used.

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In-person-only training sessions -

Meetings that used to only be offered in person are on their way out. People today have vastly different schedules, life commitments, and accessibility. Offering digital training solutions makes it much better for employees.

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Company phones for all employees -

Company phones used to tie employees to the company 24/7. Today, employees are demanding a better work-life balance and opting for their own phones.
Sources: (Forbes) (U.S. Chamber of Commerce)
See also: The best countries to start a new business

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