14/5/2024
Not another article about WFH? Well it’s a conversation that I find is repeated, and repeated once more, and we’re still working out the answer. As we navigate the evolving landscape of work in a post-pandemic world, the decision to return to the office has varied widely across organisations, particularly between large and small ones. A lot of my clients are smaller organisations, and I’ve observed first-hand the significant benefits of in-person collaboration. I keep repeating that it is because we’re actually human and we crave a 3D experience. Well I do anyway.
Data indicates that smaller companies are more likely to require office attendance, and there’s good reason for this trend. Smaller businesses often benefit from a tight-knit culture that fosters quick decision-making and agility, traits that are amplified by face-to-face interactions. In my experience, the physical presence in the office enhances teamwork and communication, critical components that are sometimes lost in remote settings. It seems really obvious as I type this but some organisations are still fishing for the answer.
Moreover, the sense of common purpose and shared goals seems more palpable when we can collaborate in the same space. This doesn’t mean we’re turning back the clock and abandoning flexibility altogether; rather, we’re blending the best of both worlds to maintain our competitive edge and cultural integrity.
I’m not advocating for 100% office attendance although I do laugh when I hear stats like Bunnings new big sales day is a Friday – nothing to do with new working weeks at all! Just make the most of what makes us human, that triggers all of our senses and allow us to engage (hopefully on just one thing, not five devices) with our full focus.
For leaders contemplating the best path forward, consider how office presence can align with your organisational goals and culture. It is about the organisation and the strategy to be delivered and what works best for that. It’s not merely about filling seats, or conversely designing things around an individual’s needs, but about enriching our work and relationships.
Where do you think things are at along the WFH<->Office Full Time spectrum?
hashtag#human hashtag#leadership hashtag#culture hashtag#performance
