As we see the covid era nearing its end, we see more and more companies veering away from the remote work setup. In one of his recent emails, Twitter’s CEO Elon Musk issues a memo at 2:30AM saying, “office is not optional”.
In the same breath, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote a letter to his employees earlier this month saying, "Our hypothesis is that it is still easier to build trust in person and that those relationships help us work more effectively.”
On the flip side, the forced lockdown has opened doors for employees to prioritize career opportunities that have flexible-working arrangements, claiming that the remote setup holds space for increased productivity, work-life integration, and convenience.
If you are a leader who was given full control, which setup would you choose for your team?
Here are 3 considerations to help you move forward.
1. Nature of work
While there are industries that can afford a purely remote work environment, there are still intricacies that have to be carefully considered when choosing the best setup. Take a few steps back and revisit your Primary Avatar. Will their needs be served best when teams are working together in a physical environment within a fixed schedule? What is the impact of the setup to your avatar?
2. Individual Preferences
Nothing is more empowering than a leader who asks before changes are implemented. Hold space for your teams to share which setup will work best for them, and strive for a win-win situation. Not only will they feel seen, but it will also make them feel that who they are truly matters beyond the work they do.
3. Culture
Whichever option you choose, culture will dictate the standards that your team will follow. What behaviour is celebrated, and what is not tolerated? Make this clear and get your team involved in crafting your team charter.
The post-pandemic introduces a new wave of change in the workplace, and it is important for leaders to be equipped with the right tools and skills before making decisions that can significantly impact the team dynamics. Hopefully, these considerations can help your team move forward with everyone’s best interests in mind.
The Leadership Project’s CEO and Founder Mick Spiers conducts keynote speaking engagements on how you can create a post-pandemic culture that will help retain and attract high-performance teams. Send a message at sei@mickspiers.com to book your complimentary consultation with us.
