Where do you stand on working remotely? No office, no pants, no problem…right?
Working solo may be fine for researchers, editors and accountants. But that isolation is not for everybody. Experts predict that 40% of workers may never return to an office. And that’s bad news for those who thrive in an energized workplace.
Zoom is fine for ‘getting everyone on the same page.’ But can you foster a healthy culture when your team is a screen full of head shots?
Okay, I’m old school. When visualizing the future, nothing beats human interaction. I’ve found there’s an undefinable magic that bubbles up when people brainstorm together…in person. Ideas surface and there’s a synergy that can’t be replicated on Zoom.
That’s when the sum is truly greater than its parts.
Likewise, amazing things come from walking the halls. Spontaneous conversations and impromptu chats can be invaluable. While some believe it’s wasted time, the opposite is true. There’s no better way to take the pulse of your team than by watching them in action.
And sometimes, those unplanned encounters blossom into something spectacular.
Here’s my take. Years ago, I ran KISW-FM, better known as the radio station that broke grunge rock in Seattle.
It was a beehive of activity – and it was common to see bands milling in the station lobby. If they could only slip their music to someone who’ play their songs. Such was the case in the early days of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains and others. Our staff befriended many of the bands, and those happenstances transformed the music world.
As sappy as it sounds, “people who need people, are the luckiest people in the world.”
