Posts

Space can be more than a place

When you hear the word “office” what pops in your mind? Big building filled with floors of cubicles? Is this the place where you store stuff, a place to put your jacket? Someplace that takes a while to get to.  What if we took this opportunity to redefine what the “office” could be rather than allow it to be what is has been, let’s create the workspace for tomorrow’s workplace.

Tsedal Neeley (@tsedal) offered the idea that the new purpose of the office is “as a tool rather than a destination.” In this video I share ways to reimagine how space can be seen and used to support a hybrid flexible workplace. We can create new ways to utilize the physical space as flexible meeting and collaboration areas that support remote tools so when projects need conversations with team members the work could be supported in a hybrid flexible manner rather than trying to reserve a cramped conference room. Space could be configured in ways to promote people safely coming together while allowing physical distancing and providing improved air flow and filtration to meet health protocols.

Space is a new frontier (apologies to Star Trek) we can begin to use differently than we have before providing greater flexibility, is multi-functional, and supports a wide range of technology to blur the lines between in-person and remote conversations and supports active collaboration. If you would like to talk more about using learning, and the space it needs, as a strategic business tool to impact your team let’s Zoom or even use the phone to talk because together, we are stronger and we don’t need being remote or at a distance to keep us from connecting and engaging – let’s learn and work together!  I’ll bring some coffee….  Use the contact button above or visit our web site!

Going to be different going forward

What was it like the first time you went out “socially”? It was a little unsettling for me, and it will be strange to wait for an elevator, go to the break room for coffee, and be with people who aren’t family. This is going to be different for each of us. We need to be prepared to see a hybrid workforce with people making different choices and as leaders we need to be attuned to people who are at different comfort levels for in-person gatherings and we need to be responsive to new, more flexible, work options. In this video I share ways to support new practices to provide our team mates a healthier work/life balance and realize that these new working models are strategic intents centered on aligning people with purpose while valuing their personal needs to create a productive and happy worker.

You set the tone with your team demonstrating respect, integrity, and connection. As different as every employee is so will the response be to a hybrid work model. You must be comfortable in leading the change knowing there isn’t a standard solution yet being intentional in creating a transparent, open space to work and live from.  It’s going to be different going forward and embracing the hybrid framework will result in improved retention, engagement, and performance. If you would like to talk more about how this framework can be used in your organization let’s Zoom or send me an email and keep the conversation going!  I’d enjoy talking with you about how we can partner to strategically develop your team. Use the contact button above or visit our web site!