Feed the Elephant - A new approach to Hybrid working
It’s a fresh, crisp morning. I look over at my wardrobe and realise I’ve got some big decisions to make. Do I run my morning executive workshop in sweatpants or do I remain in my pyjama pants and Ugg boots? I’ve got 6 minutes, I better switch my computer on, up the filter on zoom and add some earrings to look suitably C-suite.
We all know it’s true. The pandemic has created in us some glorious work-from-home habits that literally see us living a double life. One on top of the screen, and one below. Meeting breaks are spent putting on the washing and cats and dogs seem to be over-flowing with love for us 24/7.
But now, the pandemic is over. And we are being asked, or in some cases, we are being TOLD to go back to the office. And people are not happy. They say it takes 66 days to build a habit, and we are certainly beyond that threshold and far from ready to hang up our pj’s.
So the debate rages. We all know how Elon Musk feels about this proposition, but NAB are asking employees to return to the office 2 to 3 days per week and unions are off writing to over 50 organisations about how unhappy they are!
Conversely, some organisations are taking a more flexible approach, Atlassian asks you frequent the office just 4 times per year and Deloitte are offering up to 12 different flexible arrangements.
Yet there are some championing for more office time. We are hearing working in the office is better for our connection and empathy and really, it’s just a matter of habit. We’ll get used to that sweaty peak hour train ride again… right?
Whatever your stand point on this, it seems there is a giant elephant in the room and it just keeps growing.
But have we missed an opportunity?
The office environment as we know it began in the industrial revolution. A smoky haven of hierarchy and power, starting with open plan offices and then veering through a series of trends including cubicles, ergonomics and the adoption of glass and concrete exteriors.
But never before have our work processes changed so quickly and never before have we been so present at the forefront of a new frontier of working space.
“We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us.”
And if we do have to go back, isn’t it about time we worked together to create a new vision for what we need in our BAU? How exciting that we have the opportunity to be part of a changing movement and have our voice heard in how WE, the employees, would like to govern our environment. How exciting that we can all be agents of change?
Swinburne University unveiled in its latest research that the office of the future is a co-designed hybrid working model that champions human interaction and is full of activity. Others envisage a sustainable creative space that focuses on community.
And now is the time.
We all have a fresh start. How wonderfully exciting. Let’s feed that elephant and invite him to the table!
There are some organisations that are leading the pack. LinkedIn incredibly re-designed their entire office environment and continue to champion staff contribution and Citibank are embracing hybrid working through zoom free Fridays. Yet despite what seems to be a glaring opportunity for employee empowerment, many organisations are letting their people limp back to the office with welcome donuts and free coffee carts.
Recently, I caught up with a client who is at burnout level through trying to engage his team to come back to the office and remain happy. I asked him a simple question:
‘Well, what would make them happy? What are the things they want in their new world environment?’
‘I don’t know’ he sheepishly mumbled ‘I haven’t really had time to ask’.
My jaw physically dropped. And when I dived into this area, I’ve a recurrent theme and similar response ‘Look, we want to support our staff and so we’ve sent out a survey’.
What leaders are missing is a crucial part of human behaviour and a vital part of staff wellness.
People want to be heard. People want to be considered. People want agency.
Naturally, this client has now sent me to work. ‘Come up with the program Trudi, and I’ll find the budget’ – so while I design my ‘feed the elephant – co-designing new office space for a Hybrid world’ program – here are some top 5 things that YOU can do in your organisation to create community in our new commuter world.
1. Start with the 5 Why’s
The 5 Why’s is a classic design thinking model and one I happen to adore. Ask yourself ‘why’ and continue to do so until you break down the awareness and the reasoning why you do things in the office like you used to
2. Set up a ‘now’ and ‘then’ board
Get the lay of the land by adding a ‘now’ and ‘then’ board to highlight the differences that we have to now embrace. Then – we had big meetings in the meeting rooms, Now – we zoom from our desks so we can include those WFH
3. Communicate to your staff
Seems like a no-brainer, but even communicating that you know people don’t want to come back to the office, you are open to new ideas and that the staff have agency with how the office environment will now work, will make a difference
4. Note the ‘icky’ feelings
We all know them. Sometimes we have a ‘feeling’ when we are in the office because it’s just not what it used to be. Note them down. Reflect on why these feelings have arisen and this will give you an understanding of things you need to change
5. Use your imagination
Hold a meeting to go as far as you can with your ideas. Challenge the team to come up with as many ideas as they can in a short space of time.. and no idea is a redundant one. Let the ideas flow. It may be you want an office moose, you should all wear fly-fishing gear – it doesn’t matter but inviting creative flow may elicit some wonderful ideas that you haven’t thought of before (and – it’s a lot of fun)
Seems the hybrid world is here to stay. And if we do have to swap out our ugg boots a few times a week, lets utilise our chance to disrupt our old ways of working and make it a space where our voice is heard.
Leaders. I implore you. Here is your chance to give agency to your staff and improve your culture. Not to mention have a work environment that your staff are happy to commute to.
Feed the elephant. He’s not going anywhere.
And if you need a help with the menu – watch this space for the upcoming program. (or get in touch).
