You stated all that so well, Jeff. Thanks! I do best from a coffee shop, and I did some of my best work as the Chief Revenue Officer for an $85m revenue company from various coffee shops - growing the company 20% a year with nice bottom-line growth.
The CEO demanded people return to the office after COVID. The turnover was unbelievable.
So easy to destroy a good thing when you don’t understand why it is good.
I agree with you on everything you said. I think it’s almost a lose lose situation. People wanna work from home because they like the freedom of it. However, it creates more isolation which limits, creativity, and innovation, even though you can be more productive.
I actually think the lunch break is a good representation of the breakdown. Check this out.
That’s the question to ask! Probably a little more than you want to hear but … there is something to building relationships in person. You spend a little extra time talking, getting to know people. A physical presence with someone can be helpful in getting comfortable with them.
When it comes time to give them bad news or ask something extra of the person, having spent this extra time in person with them can make the situation better and allow you to be more honest.
When COVID first hit, we could still be very productive because we had these relationships. They existed from the previous time together.
As time went on, and there was turnover, even just standard rates of turnover, we were more and more frequently dealing with people with whom we didn’t have this relationship. We only knew them remotely. So some time in the office makes sense, just to build these relationships.
I am very good with twice a week being asked to come to the office. Make Wednesday Everyone In Day or something like that. Find a way to develop those relationships.
That seems to make sense, but very open to other opinions.
Interestingly I work really well from coffee shops too. Something about the background noise, the constant movement and the soothing scent makes me really productive.
I am not nearly as productive in an office environment
You stated all that so well, Jeff. Thanks! I do best from a coffee shop, and I did some of my best work as the Chief Revenue Officer for an $85m revenue company from various coffee shops - growing the company 20% a year with nice bottom-line growth.
The CEO demanded people return to the office after COVID. The turnover was unbelievable.
So easy to destroy a good thing when you don’t understand why it is good.
I agree with you on everything you said. I think it’s almost a lose lose situation. People wanna work from home because they like the freedom of it. However, it creates more isolation which limits, creativity, and innovation, even though you can be more productive.
I actually think the lunch break is a good representation of the breakdown. Check this out.
https://www.thebestleadershipnewsletter.com/p/how-we-killed-connection-at-work
What do you think a “fair” rule is for a company in terms of work policy?
That’s the question to ask! Probably a little more than you want to hear but … there is something to building relationships in person. You spend a little extra time talking, getting to know people. A physical presence with someone can be helpful in getting comfortable with them.
When it comes time to give them bad news or ask something extra of the person, having spent this extra time in person with them can make the situation better and allow you to be more honest.
When COVID first hit, we could still be very productive because we had these relationships. They existed from the previous time together.
As time went on, and there was turnover, even just standard rates of turnover, we were more and more frequently dealing with people with whom we didn’t have this relationship. We only knew them remotely. So some time in the office makes sense, just to build these relationships.
I am very good with twice a week being asked to come to the office. Make Wednesday Everyone In Day or something like that. Find a way to develop those relationships.
That seems to make sense, but very open to other opinions.
Interestingly I work really well from coffee shops too. Something about the background noise, the constant movement and the soothing scent makes me really productive.
I am not nearly as productive in an office environment
This part: “I hate to break the news to you, but you don’t have a remote work problem.
You have a trust problem.
In fact, you’ve always had a trust problem.
You just needed a global pandemic to expose it.”
That beautiful moment when we finally see the real issue.