The global pandemic is still a topic that is often met with a collective groan, being a time many of us would rather forget ever happened, but as we know it continues to impact our behaviour in a myriad of ways. Its impact on the workplace environment both from the context of how we design these environments to what now even defines a work ‘place’.
While the concept of working remotely was nothing new, it was the sheer scale of the shift in location & operation during the pandemic for the vast majority of people that made it so unusual. Remote working was no longer the niche prevail of the unique few but a reality for entire teams & businesses of all kinds the world over. Like many other companies, legitimate fears surfaced about keeping business alive. How would an empty office, where staff are not visible and connected, continue to deliver projects and operate as a team?
Some normality has returned & we now live in the luxury of choice, work from home for a day, be in the office the next, work from the café… choice is king. There are those though, that continue to opt for a remote working in permanence.
Of the myriad of software available to facilitate online/virtual connectivity none of this is a true substitute for in-person connection. Successfully maintaining a good working relationship as a team when one or multiple people are remote from the office requires conscious effort to cultivate connectivity and team inclusion.
“…I have colleagues who consciously make time for me outside of their project commitments. They are the reason that this life decision works for me long term.”
‘Having a team that make a conscious effort to call me or have a virtual video chat that is not project based is how I feel connected to everyone. There are times when I’m on screen while they kick back for a birthday celebration and while some things are lost across the audio, I get to be part of the moment. As a permanent remote worker, I miss the incidental banter throughout the day but I have colleagues who consciously make time for me outside of their project commitments. They are the reason that this life decision works for me long term.’ Pia Allan, Interior Designer, Venko
Good Things Come in Threes
These are the three truths we discovered about trust, collaboration & productivity, while working remotely as a team during the pandemic that continue to hold true.
Trust.
Your team will only be accountable if you let them be.
‘Trust is paramount. The tendency to fear that without visual monitoring, your team is not performing, is based on a lack of confidence that they will do their job just as you would.’ Tina Berardi, Director, Venko
Remote working requires synergy and commitment as a team to achieve a common goal. People grow and take initiatives well outside their comfort zone when faced with the autonomy and independence which would not have as readily been seen if it was the “business as usual” pre pandemic environment.
Without the immediate reliance on other members of the team, there is the opportunity to take ownership and be accountable.
Collaboration.
Collaboration improves because we each bring to the table a more focused agenda.
Team-based creative work can be a challenge to manage remotely. Video Conferencing is not an easy format for this kind of work. The body language cues and exchanges of thoughts bouncing back and forth are not present to the same extent.
How we collaborate and work together is very different. It has become a necessity to put more thought and focus into what is tabled for review. We don’t have access to the immediate feedback we usually would seated together. Our thoughts are more focused because there are fewer distractions.
Productivity.
Being forced into new ways of working has provided insight and direction towards improved productivity.
Technology can decrease productivity if it is not managed effectively. Managing the volume of video conferencing meetings and instant messaging chats has overtaken emails as an agent for distraction and absorbing time.
Productivity has actually increased though as we are more protective of how we spend our time. Being remote gives us additional autonomy on whether to opt in or out of a conversation. Establishing separate chat groups also enables team members to not be drawn in unnecessarily.
It has become very clear as a consequence of a time many would prefer forget, that when you allow your team to be trusted they provide the reminder of what a business is founded on in the first place – people. Relationships are about trust. If you have to play detective, then it’s time to move on. The pandemic opened our eyes to many home truths and trusting your team is more valuable and important than we realised. They are the key to the survival of your business.
“Relationships are about trust. If you have to play detective, then it’s time to move on”
The Three Truths
- Trust – Your team will only be accountable if you let them be.
- Collaboration – Collaboration improves because we each bring to the table a more focused agenda.
- Productivity – Being forced into new ways of working provides insight and direction towards improved productivity.