In 2022, the world will be a different place. It will have changed in ways we can't predict, and, likely, company culture—how people work together to make money—will change as well.

Challenges Companies Face in 2022

We know that there are some challenges facing company culture today, but what about those looming on the horizon? What do we need to look out for? Let's look at nine challenges looming over company culture in 2022.

New Technology

As new technologies are developed, there will come a time when some employees can accomplish their job using that technology instead of through office interaction with their colleagues. This could cause problems where many workers don't need to rely on each other to accomplish work while some still do.

Those who still rely on human interactions for collaboration may be ostracized by those who have switched over to machines or feel alienated by the lack of reliance on coworkers. These feelings could be mitigated by management taking the time to seamlessly integrate the new technology with company culture and use it to interact with team members.

Increased Mobility

Employees who work remotely need communication to feel like they are part of their team. If employees must transfer into an area with little communication, this could threaten their ability to connect and increase isolation and feelings of disconnect.

This may be difficult for some companies but can be solved through communication strategies that keep all workers on the same page regardless of location, including video conferencing programs or asking coworkers about how they communicate during collaborative projects.

Workplace Relationships

Changing workplace relationships between colleagues could create challenges or stress if too much emphasis is placed on lavishing perks upon others. This could lead to a culture of jealousy, greed, and entitlement where one feels poor because another is given an office with a view or new cars for company use.

These problems can be avoided by focusing on workers as people who need opportunities that meet their lifestyles.

Aging Workforce

As people live longer and stay healthy longer, they may wish to work beyond the traditional retirement age. Suppose employers don't accommodate this need through training new employees or offering flexible schedules or options for adapting workspace environments.

In that case, this could create some resentment from those forced out of the workforce earlier than they prefer. Companies would do well to offer some incentive programs for those willing to pass on knowledge gained over a lifetime of experience.

Gender Equality

The gap between men and women in the workforce is slowly narrowing, but some gaps still need to be filled. For example, for company culture to be truly effective, it needs to be inclusive of everyone, regardless of gender identity or expression, such as providing business coaches for females.

This means that all voices need to be heard, and all employees should feel safe and comfortable working in whatever environment they choose, regardless of the situation.

Political Polarization

The current political landscape is one of great polarization. For company culture to be effective, workers need to be able to put their political beliefs aside and collaborate on projects.

However, with current issues in strong organizational culture, this is becoming increasingly more difficult. If this trend continues, it could lead to a rift in the workplace where coworkers can't stand to be in the same room.

Globalization

As globalization increases and new cultures enter the workplace, companies will need to find ways of working with each other while also maintaining their own culture. This has been a challenge for many already, leading to the rise of consulting firms whose job is to bridge these gaps by smoothing out communication problems and advising on company policies.

Companies would do well to invest money in this area to work seamlessly with foreign workers and avoid culture shock when speaking with business partners abroad.

Environmentalism

As we become more environmentally conscious, company culture will need to reflect those values. This means that workplaces will need to be designed with sustainability in mind, and employees will need to be mindful of their impact on the environment both inside and outside of work.

Those who are not environmentally conscious could feel alienated or uncomfortable in an environment like this, so management must be careful not to alienate any portion of its workforce.

Work-Life Balance

The line between work and life is becoming increasingly blurred, causing problems for many workers. They cannot enjoy their time off because they're constantly checking work emails or attending work-related functions after hours.

Although this may save some businesses money, it could be detrimental to company culture in the long term. In addition, employees need time away from their jobs to avoid burnout and increase productivity once they return.

Machine Learning

As machine learning and automation become more widespread, companies will need to work harder than ever to ensure their employees are as productive as possible.

This means teaching them how to use new technology or developing training programs that can teach them how to work alongside technology so humans and machines can collaborate on projects. Either way, it will be a difficult task if companies don't invest now to facilitate the switch later down the line.

How Cultural Problems in the World Affect Company Culture

As the world becomes increasingly connected, company culture must also become more global. This means that workers need to be able to work with people from all over the world and understand their cultural values.

If this doesn't happen, company culture problems will become bogged down by misunderstandings and conflict. To avoid this, management needs to make a conscious effort to bridge foreign work cultures and standardize practices.

How to Overcome Challenges in Work Culture

When searching for ideas on how to face challenges in work culture in 2022, management must be willing to adapt. This means that they need to be aware of the issues listed above and take steps to address them.

Additionally, employees need to be more mindful of their behavior and how it affects those around them. Finally, cooperation between parties can solve company culture challenges, and a more productive work environment can be created.

Share your favorite way to overcome workplace challenges by using #WorkTogether on  TwitterFacebookLinkedIn, or Instagram.

About the Author, James Webster

James Webster, founder and Executive Chairman of ROK Financial has almost two decades of experience within the financial services industry. His passion for helping small business owners and his innovative way of thinking, has allowed him to run multiple successful businesses including National Business Capital & Services. Under the National name, the team was able to help secure over $1 Billion in financing for small businesses nationwide.