We are creatures of habit, the world endlessly encounters change that challenges the habits we’ve come to know. The most important characteristic we can demonstrate in situations like this is adaptability. Being able to adapt is what allows us to succeed, seeing as success does not come untested. The recent shift to remote work has shaken up the way companies operate and tested their efficiency without being physically connected.
This has resulted in dramatic boosts in productivity and effective task completion. It was found that remote work is completed with 40% fewer mistakes. Additionally, the ability to work remotely has had its benefits on employee satisfaction. One company surveyed in 2019 found that 71% of their employees working remotely were happy with their job compared to 55% who were in person.
In the case of today’s workforce, upwards of 56% of companies are transitioning to remote work in the United States alone. The popular opinion here is that workers are much more effective when they’re able to work from home. Why is that? If there’s been this standard procedure of going into an office for years, why is the at-home model being favored?
If we consider all the elements eliminated from the workday (commute, wardrobe, coffee, lunch) there is a lot of time and money being saved over time. Employees can now allocate this additional time and money to areas most beneficial to them and not just for “fueling” or “getting through” the day.
The big dilemma being faced by organizations is that now the world is shifting back to how things were before. With this, a return to in-person work is included yet employees have become accustomed to this new lifestyle of working from home. The reason there is a conflict is that remote working was supposed to be temporary. Yet because of the duration that remote work has been in effect, we have adapted to it and used it to our benefit. This has created tension in organizations and even led to employees leaving their jobs for being required to come back in person.
The ultimate goal of any organization is to have a team that performs at its maximum capability. Leaders are constantly looking for ways to allow this to happen but they may be missing one of the biggest opportunities to do so. The shift to remote work has seemingly broken barriers to new levels of effectiveness. A remote shift does not mean that the organization never has to meet in person, there should be designated times for this. However, allowing employees to work in their preferred environment makes their creativity flow freely.
Here are some reasons why:
Everyone Is Different
A one size fits all approach to work is never going to be optimal seeing as everybody has different needs for their productivity and creativity. A cubical can never represent or be turned into someone's ideal space. Some may need more natural light, certain scents, be able to dress their preferred way, be able to think/talk out loud, the list is endless. Essentially, gathering a team in one collective spot to do their work will not yield optimal results for every member.
Mental Well-Being
Just as the space someone works in enhances their creative process, it allows them to feel in control of what they are doing. In some cases, it may even make them feel more in control of their lives. We can become so detached from our personal lives spending over 40 hours a week in the office. Remote work allows people to bring the workplace closer to their personal life, which some may see as an issue but anyone who loves working from home will tell you it’s not. It’s about finding the balance, and the balance is a lot easier to find when you’re in touch with your reality.
Increased Recruitment Pool
With the alleviated stress of someone having to relocate, organizations can bring in talent from just about anywhere. This brings in new perspectives and even allows people who may not have had the opportunity to work at the location, a chance to grow in the organization. This puts leaders in a position where they can evaluate the talent they wouldn’t have had access to and apply it to roles in their teams.
Conclusion
Change is inevitable and can be unexpected, however, change also goes one of two ways. Which way it goes is up to those experiencing the change, you can look at it as happening to you or happening for you. Using any circumstance in your life to your advantage comes from identifying the big picture and not settling for anything less than the desired outcome.
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