Lately, @lornerubis and I have talked a lot about the impact of technology in the workplace. Technology is a great tool; it allows you to work better and smarter and wherever you want.
The emergence of a remote and global workforce has created unique challenges for traditional business. Creating “collisions” has become a focus for many organizations; they want to develop spaces where teams can come together, collaborate, ideate, and “collide” on projects and solutions. And many leaders believe you must have an office space for collisions to happen.
Today, Lorne and I want to challenge that assumption. Think about it. Do you really need a physical office to promote collaboration? Collisions should happen naturally, but our jam-packed schedules can prevent us from taking an hour to have a long conversation with a colleague in the middle of the day. Instead, collisions occur when you are able to get on someone’s schedule.
Working virtually or remotely doesn’t mean that you can’t have collisions. It just means you have to be intentional in your work. At its core, a collision isn’t about the physical space. It’s about generating genuine human connections with our peers.
As leaders, we must challenge the assumption that open-concept offices are necessary for collaboration. Instead, you must focus on creating personal relationships in every space you share with others, even cyberspace.
As a freelance consultant with remote clients, I create collisions with them in two ways. I always request video meetings, because a face-to-face conversation allows you to understand their reactions and feelings better. And I consistently reach out to them to stay connected, so they never get that “out of sight, out of mind” feeling.
Here are our three main takeaways this week:
- Have intentionality in your work; it’s not about showing up to the physical office to be seen but rather to create a personal connection.
- Remember that you can create genuine relationships in many ways: via video, text, or in person.
- If you have virtual workforce, think about how you’re going to create personal connections. Consider ideas like weekly virtual meetings, bringing the organization together once a quarter, or planning social hangouts.
Here’s to disrupting sameness and achieving #betterwork.
Lynette
