Don’t waste limbo: there’s much to be done!
The government has delayed the end of restrictions: 28 days later indeed.
For me this extra time drifting between the end of lockdown and reopening feels flat. Like the time between A-levels and results when you’re waiting for life to start. Interspersed only by dramatic announcements from the likes of Morgan Stanley chief, James Gorman, threatening to “change his tone” if people don’t return to five days a week in September.
Rather than fill the void with hectoring, here’s what you should be doing:
Talk to your team. According to a survey conducted by Microsoft, report this week 100% of over 4000 people polled reported they have some anxiety about returning to the office. 56% have not even been asked their views.These conversations are essential to plan the next phase or working well.
Be aware: 41% are considering a new job in the next year, and 46% are considering making a major pivot, eg.moving house.
ACTION: Plan together.
Analyse the productivity gains and losses of remote working. Research from the University of Chicago of 10,000+ IT workers shows that while time working has gone up 30%, output hasn’t changed, which means productivity has drop of 20%. A clue as to why may be in the massive rise in meetings and messages reported by Microsoft; 50% of chat messages are responded to in less that five minutes. Putting in place systems to manage this communications onslaught is going to be key.
ACTION: Cut meetings and calls—protect time.
Re-start networking. The research shows that we have become close to our small teams but lost our wider connections. Initial forays into small networking events and lunches are being well-received by many deprived of such interactions for so long.
ACTION: Identify atrophied relationships and diarise a meet-up.
So get busy—before you realise it, you’ll be back in it.
Next week:
The three big factors that will determine whether businesses stay with: remote, hybrid, or an office return.
See you then,
Christine
