Remote work experts Anne and office culture specialist Frances provide tips on maintaining a connected and engaged culture in a hybrid work environment, emphasizing the importance of work environment and relationships. They also discuss the challenges of remote work on employee engagement and collaboration, as well as the future of remote work and its implications for leadership.
The importance of finding a balance between in-person and remote work to foster engagement and connection among employees.
The need for organizations to embrace remote work as a tool and focus on purposeful work that is done when people come together.
Deep dives
Maintaining a Culture in Remote Work
The podcast episode discusses the challenge of maintaining a strong culture in a company that is transitioning to a more remote work model. The speaker highlights the importance of finding a balance between in-person and remote work to foster engagement and connection among employees. They suggest implementing anchor days, where employees come into the office on specific days to plan activities that promote collaboration and social interaction. The podcast emphasizes the need for coordination and flexibility in creating a work environment that prioritizes engagement and addresses the challenges posed by remote work.
Adapting to the Future of Work
The podcast explores the idea that the future of work is not about going back to pre-pandemic norms but rather designing work to achieve a company's mission without being limited by space and time. The speaker discusses the need for organizations to embrace remote work as a tool and to focus on purposeful work that is done when people come together. They highlight the importance of providing agency and flexibility to employees while also creating conditions for collaboration and engagement. The podcast encourages organizations to adopt a proactive and experimental approach to finding solutions that suit their specific context and foster a sustainable remote work culture.
Creating a Engaging Work Environment
The podcast explores strategies to create an engaging work environment in a remote work setting. The speaker suggests forming a committee tasked with addressing the challenges of remote work and fostering engagement. They emphasize the importance of involving employees in this process to ensure their active participation and contribution. The podcast also discusses the need for coordination and collaboration on anchor days, where employees come into the office, and proposes incorporating activities such as training sessions, social events, and motivational sessions to make these days more purposeful and enjoyable. The speaker encourages organizations to focus on creating an environment where people feel motivated and excited to work together, rather than imposing rigid workplace rules.
Remote work is here to stay — but even for companies that did it pre-pandemic, new challenges are popping up. Dean’s accounting firm has 4,000 employees, and people once happily alternated between working from home and the office. But recently there's been a shift, and the once-thriving hybrid environment is not quite as bustling. Afraid of losing the supportive and social in-office culture, Dean turns to Anne and Frances for help. Together, they find a balance between remote flexibility and in-person interaction. Anne and Frances also share tips on making office days not only productive but exciting for everyone who joins.