In our latest “Unscripted Tech” conversation, we dive into an ongoing topic for businesses and people around the world: remote work. Changes in work dynamics due to the pandemic created new challenges for businesses, as well as for employees. We will continue to face these circumstances as, according to Gartner, 48% of employees will keep working remotely at least part time after COVID-19.
One of the challenges organizations are facing is how to motivate teams to return to the office for in-person work. Identifying both the benefits of working remotely and the drawbacks versus the office hybrid model will look different for each company, and possibly each employee within that company. Some businesses require more of an office presence than others and have already started adapting their spaces for a return to working on site. Others are pursuing extending remote work options for their employees.
As the Director of the Adaptive Organizations studio at Globant, Diego Maldonado helps companies overcome changes in work processes, and he shares that:
“You need to start blending different types of models to allow people to be flexible and allow for the reality that people are not all the same. Some of them are going to require more office <time> than others, some of them are going to require a more structured job than others.”
Diego underlines that, since non-structured spaces where we used to listen to each other in the office have been reduced- such as the coffee room- businesses need to create new structured settings for remote workers using the advantages of technology.
It’s important to consider how we can apply technology to create structured spaces that promote a positive environment and strengthen relationships for remote employees. Some things, he confirms, are definitely sticking around post-pandemic, such as flexible hours that allow people to create work-life balance.
Adriana Sclar, Studio Partner for Cultural Hacking at Globant, is in charge of guiding customers towards a positive cultural transformation. She adds that:
“The relationship with things changed. How you relate to technology, to your coworkers…so how do we keep achieving our goals and create engagement within teams even though we are away? Create productivity, but also a sense of belonging that will lead people to really be willing to work?”
Adriana’s concerns relate to exploring innovative ways that create new rituals which form strong relationships even when working remotely. These elements are fundamental for creating culture, for team building, and for generating powerful connections between co-workers.
She’s a firm believer that this is a great opportunity to rethink the way organizations do things, and multidisciplinary teams are a big part of building what’s next. A mixture of understanding technology, business, and people is vital in order to make accurate business decisions that will, at the same time, provide benefits for employees.
Food for thought
For leaders, it’s not only a question of what kind of workplace culture they want to build within their business. It’s also a plan of action. 78% of a group of 669 CEOs believe remote collaboration needs to be part of a long-term business strategy. It’s also a matter of optimally using technology, with all its advantages, tools, platforms, and options available.
Although companies are still learning the best path towards achieving an ideal balance of remote work, we are without a doubt starting to identify the key points they should be focusing on, and it starts with their employees.
Learn more about this topic in our podcast episode here.
