What Leaders Can Learn From Elon Musk's Ultimatum to Tesla ExecutivesHolding solid leadership fundamentals is vital when nations worldwide emerge after the pandemic's impact.

BySteve Taplin

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

A strong work ethic and passion may be the winning formula for many companies and businesses, but flexibility andempathyoffer diverse advantages for workers and employers. While this works for most entrepreneurs and companies, flexibility and empathy play a significant role in moving forward in difficult times.

Elon Musk's recent "return to the office, or leave" directive to Tesla employees raises concerns over his leadership, compassion and empathy for workers. Holding solid leadership fundamentals is vital when nations worldwide emerge after the pandemic's impact.

Thanks to technological advancement, workers can still engage and fulfill their obligations safely in the face of pandemics or other unexpected disasters. Musk's letter to his employees leaves a lot for top managers to analyze. Some may view it as a lack oftrust and respect对于工人来说,prompting a provocation of the community's collective analysis and thinking.

Today, many mainstream tech companies do not require employees to return to the office full-time, especially after some regions' resurgence of Covid-19 cases. Tesla's return to office directive to all workers seems to undermine the tremendous technological progress made throughremote working.

Related:3 Easy Ways to Improve Workplace Flexibility

The importance of flexibility and empathy in the workplace

Empathy and flexibility in the workplace help an organization quickly adapt to unexpected circumstances when they arise. These core leadership fundamentals can bring changes that establish critical plans to overcome the unanticipated obstacles.

On the contrary, Tesla's CEO's ultimatum to workers and company executives creates a stir among workers. Several people felt this violatedethical leadership approachesand efficient management practices. It also appears to undermine workers' values, choices, flexibility and control, all fundamentals for quality of life.

The pandemic may have several downsides to our lives and the economy. Still, its impact goes a long way in establishing the essential place of technology, flexibility and empathy. While it is excellent for the quality of life, it is also "giving people more choices and greater control over where they work," according to a recently publishedForbes article.

Related:What Is Empathy, and Why Is It So Important for Great Leaders?

Establishing clear expectations and technological solutions

Over the months and all through the pandemic, nations worldwide have struggled to regain their original place of productivity. Most companies navigated to remote technological solutions despite the lack of clarity, ambiguity and unpredictability. Some capitalized onnearshore outsourcing, and others have focused on setting demanding clear expectations regardless of the outcome, like Musk's ultimatum to his workers.

Most employers like working with people who have and understandclear-cut expectations和强大的观点。然而,许多人仍然ag)ree that times have changed, and technological solutions in the workplace, like remote working, should begin taking a more permanent state. For many CEOs, it is significant and ideal for continued productivity.

Many companies may find it challenging to establish clear expectations in pandemic times. But they can capitalize and gain significant grounds in recovery through remote working. Companies executives like Facebook, Instagram and Airbnb, site this move as an economical way of advancing flexibility and safety. It also keeps current workers happy while attracting andretaining more talent.

Moreover, businesses adapting to technological changes take calculated steps in their approach, especially in remote work. These flexible solutions, such as hiring a nearshore software development company, portray company owners and executives as compassionate, particularly during the renewed surge in Covid-19 cases.

Related:Workplace Flexibility Can Impact How You Attract, Hire, And Retain Talent

Recommendations

U.S. companies are turning to and will continue to witness a permanent shift towork-from-homesetups. While Musk doesn't seem to be a fan of remote working, his directives may cause more attrition than recovery.

In unexpected circumstances like the pandemic outbreak, remote working plays a core role in empowering flexibility and empathy in established businesses. Musk may have successfully established four companies, but, his recent order and achievements appear to cloud his better judgment ofa leader's empathy, compassion and flexibility in difficult times amidst failure to embrace changing times.

It's evident that some operations require physical presence, and his workers are lauded for unlimited creativity and inventiveness. However, more CEOs have realized that remote working has little impact on employees' ability to deliver, and in most cases, it even increases productivity. In addition, other top executives like JP Morgan Chase CEO, Jamie Dimon, indicated that remote work is becoming more permanent and acceptable in American business.

At the moment, CEOs should move to establishhybrid workschedules where workers can come to the office two to three days a week and work the remainder remotely. The transition to this technological solution is rapidly increasing currently, with about 30% of U.S. office employees working from home.

While a strong work ethic and passion are core determinants of success, empathy and compassion still portray leadership's core fundamentals in unexpected situations that endanger workers in changing times. In the face of the pandemic, Musk should prioritize workers' safety and retain talent, especially during the Great Resignation.

麝香的回到办公室计划res的一剂良药urgence of COVID-19 cases. While it is a technology company that may require physical presence still, a consideration of implementing proven solutions like remote will sustain the company's goals and productivity. It will also set him as a compassionate leader. Additionally, instead of threatening workers with a back-to-office order, initiating a hybrid return-to-office plan in safe phases while creating and leavingflexibility for employeesto work remotely is the ultimate solution.

Steve Taplin

CEO of Sonatafy Technology

Steve Taplin is the CEO of Sonatafy Technology (www.sonatafy.com), a premier nearshore software-development-services firm that provides its clients with expertise in cloud solutions, web and mobile applications, ecommerce, big data, DevOps practices, QA, IoT and machine learning.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

Misinformation is Destroying Businesses — How Do We Finally Tackle Fake News?

When it comes to social media, the lines between truth and falsehood blur further. But how do we even start solving the fake news problem?

Business News

Meta Is Paying the Celebrity Faces Behind Its AI Chatbots as Much as $5 Million for 6 Hours of Work, Report Says

One unnamed top creator was paid $5 million for six hours of work, according to The Information.

Business News

Watch: London Airport Parking Garage Erupts in Flames Leaving Thousands of Passengers Stranded, Delayed

London Luton Airport resumed flight activity late Wednesday following the incident.

Business News

This Restaurant Will Charge You a Hefty $50 Fee If You Have One Too Many Mimosas

Kitchen Story in Oakland, California isn't playing around when it comes to bottomless brunch.

Business Ideas

This Retiree's Yummy Hobby Is Now a Remote Side Hustle That Makes $250 an Hour: 'I Attached My Bank Account And the Money Just Flowed Automatically'

Since 1972, in his downtime, Bill Reichman has been dedicated to one delicious diversion. When the pandemic hit, he turned his passion into a lucrative side hustle. Here's how he did it.