Three Good Reasons to Go Back to the Office
Business leaders across the country are wringing their hands as they consider how to bring staff back to the office. The options generally fall into three categories – everyone back at their desks, let’s compromise, and stay home. Every option has issues especially at the extreme ends of the spectrum, but I keep wondering if we’re missing the silver lining in all the confusion.
The pandemic accelerated changes to the way we work that we are struggling to absorb. We are facing a monumental pivot in our work lives that we will be challenged to understand for years to come. However, embedded in these changes is the rare opportunity for a fresh start. The opportunity to reboot your business culture.
Culture is made up of an interlocking set of goals, roles, values, communication practices and assumptions. Volumes of books have been written about how, why, and when to change culture and they all agree on one thing, it’s incredibly difficult. After a year of working from home we have a blank slate to prioritize new aspects of our work lives. What if we prioritize the most important aspects of building and preserving culture for our face-to-face interactions and let teams work independently with maximum flexibility the rest of the time?
Prioritizing face-to-face interactions for decision-making, training and celebration will support and strengthen work culture for many businesses. Here’s why:
Decisions – Throughout my career strategic planning, and collaboration around difficult decisions have had the best outcomes when done in-person. I once had to miss the first day of a strategic planning session and ended up regretting it for the rest of the year. Leadership teams need to look each other in the eyes to agree and disagree and find their way to compromise.
Training – Onboarding new staff has been one of the most challenging aspects of work life during the pandemic. Connecting to mission and the community of the organization is critically important to getting employees off to a good start. Likewise, leadership and DEI training are best delivered in environments where debate and engagement can flow freely.
Celebrate – One of the saddest events I experienced during the pandemic was a Zoom retirement. We did our best with gift cards and heart-warming speeches, but it left a lingering sadness. Culture is reinforced by what we celebrate and how we value our collective contributions. Human connection builds through celebration.
So, here’s the call to action, let’s prioritize decisions, training, and celebration. Let’s give employees great reasons to be back in the office.
Need Support?
Curious how you can reinvigorate your employees to return to the office? Do you need support during transition? Connect with Anna in a free Discovery Call to see how her work and methodology can support you and your business.
About Anna & Executive Horizons
Anna Alvarez Boyd, is the founder of Executive Horizons LLC, a consulting and leadership coaching business. Anna brings over 30 years of experience as a trusted senior leader to her clients. Her coaching starts with the belief that every individual is talented, creative and whole. She supports clients to deeper self-discovery, through a unique, tailored approach for each person that includes skill building, reflective practices and leadership development.