We're slowly peeking out from the safety of our homes and squinting into the sun like bears after hibernation.
As we change out of our slippers and sweats into clothing more appropriate for the occasional (and long awaited!) in-person interactions, organizational leaders are faced with the next great pandemic problem....
Should we go back into the office, or not?
This exact question has been raised in so many of my conversations with business and education leaders in the last few weeks.
I see three obvious options:
1. Bring your workforce back 100% as they were pre-pandemic.
2. Offer employees a mix of remote and in-office work.
3. Stay with your current model of mostly remote or virtual work.
I have been fascinated by what options many big companies are choosing.
Mark Metrick, the chief executive of Saks, a luxury store based in Manhattan, recently announced that starting in September he will be seeing the company's 500 corporate employees in the office. Goldman Sachs is asking employees to be ready to commute back into the office by mid June.
On the flip side, music streaming company and podcast giant Spotify announced back in February that it would let its 6,550 employees choose where the want to work from.
Many companies are also requiring vaccinations for in-office work - a still hotly debated issue that I am certain will continue to be another pandemic problem leaders will have to manage for the foreseeable future. If you haven't yet, you better start planning now ! (You may want to call your attorney).
So, you're probably wondering.…
Jeff, what should I do? Should I make people come back into the office?
That depends.
Every organization is different. Every leader is different.
I suggest asking yourself three critical questions to help you decide your next move.
1. How comfortable am I with the decentralized environment we have been operating in?
Many people have found working from home to be a great advantage to them and their business. Less time spent commuting means more time for pleasure or work time! And, those they lead seem to be doing well in this environment too. If you are comfortable continuing with business as usual “2020 style” then by all means keep at it! But, if you (and your team) are feeling disconnected from your work, colleagues, and need separation between home and work it might be time to get back into the office. Be honest with yourself!
2. How do I best measure the success of my team?
Before making your decision based just on question #1 you have to take some time to clearly answer this question. Many leaders have told me that their teams and organizations have been MORE productive in the work-from-home environment. I hesitate to agree that this is really true. Take a close look at how you measure success. I’m sure it’s more than just “things stuff done.” In 2020 I measured success as this, “if Diamond6 survives and I can keep all my employees then we have been successful.” In 2021 my measure of success is definitely greater than simply survival. And so, we may have to make some changes in our work environment to achieve our new goals. Get clear on your organizations goals and then look at whether you can achieve those goals by continuing your current work structure.
3. What is my plan and how will I communicate it?
Now that you have answered questions 1 and 2 it’s time to make a plan. Remember, “a goal without a plan is simply a wish.” Write our your plan for how you will handle virtual and/or in-office work going forward. Write it out and try to think through all the challenges and contingencies you need to consider that are unique to your business and your employees. Consider running your plan by one or two colleagues in or outside of your business for feedback. Then, most importantly think about HOW you will communicate your plan to your organization. Will a simple email be enough? I company-wide Zoom meeting? Should you just throw it up on Twitter? HOW you communicate this plan may be more important than the plan itself.
At this point you must remember that you are reinventing the organizational climate. This is a rare opportunity to change the culture of your organization. Careful thought and planning are key to your success!
No matter what you decide one thing is important to remember.
Your team will do what you do.
That means, if your plan is to have people return to your office but you continue to work from home you will be silently communicating that you are a leader who doesn’t lead by example. I suspect you will lose a lot of respect and those folks who can will return to their at-home offices. And visa versa. If your plan is to remain virtual but you return to the office, they will feel the pressure to return as well.
On the surface deciding whether or not to remain working virtually or returning to the office seems like a fairly simple decision. But, there is more to it than you think! Be sure to think it through before making a lasting, and very impactful, decision.
Last, but not least….
Should you open your front door, car keys in hand, for your first commute back to the office be sure to take a good long look in the mirror. Are those sweatpants you’re wearing? Slippers on your feet? Better head back inside and dig out your office clothes!