What’s to Become of The Office?

May 5

Hi, everyone,

Over the past few weeks, as we near re-entry, we’ve discussed the challenges and opportunities of a hybrid work model.

Perhaps most excitingly, hybrid work is an opportunity to not only switch up where people work, but how work gets done, teams collaborate, and the experience of the entire workforce.

One question I’m hearing from many of our clients is: What’s to become of the office?

THE LANGUAGE OF LEADERSHIP

Pre-pandemic, many organizations saw the office as a place to get work done. Post-pandemic, businesses have realized that much of that same work is able to be done from home. As a result, employees will likely be moving between a home work space and a traditional office. What’s important to realize (and be intentional around) is that the office is likely going to shift from a place to complete tasks to a culture space where workers can connect, learn, and collaborate.

THE WEEKLY FLOURISH

While chatting by the water cooler might have been discouraged in a pre-pandemic world, these “in between moments” will be fundamental to the offices of the future. From now, leaders should be thinking about how they will use the office as both a collaboration hub and social anchor. While this will look different for each organization, here are a few questions HR leaders can begin asking their employees to help co-create this new office environment.

Are there certain team meetings that should be conducted in person?
What work activities does the office need to support?
Have you felt any positive or negative change in the company culture or your career opportunities since the start of the pandemic?

In short, long gone are the days when showing up at the office was just a function of showing facetime to prove your output. Leaders should reinforce this idea by spending time themselves socializing as well as begin thinking about social rituals that can bring employees together once it’s safe to do so again (for example, hosting weekly happy hours or a yoga class on Wellness Wednesdays). The office can actually be fun - and productive - if we take the time to ask our employees what they need most from it.

GREATNESS TAKES GUIDANCE

Along with the rise of hybrid working, will be the rise of hybrid learning and development. As employees get more used to being able to do things on their own time, organizations should offer development opportunities that cater to a self-paced structure as well as offer opportunities for socialization. We’ve created A ctivate as the first hybrid manager training of its kind, allowing employees to benefit from downloadable workbooks, pre-recorded videos, as well as live group coaching calls where they can practice their skills and talk through challenges and wins.

To having the best of both worlds,

—Carrie & Team Leadology

Featured

Leadology’s Founder Carrie Skowronski

Carrie founded Leadology to address a variety of challenges all stemming from the same reality: The workplace is changing rapidly.

Drawing on her global background in organizational leadership, she helps companies establish proactive cultures as they align generations and demographics in hybrid settings.

Check out the links below to learn more about our Learning Journeys.