CEO: “Did we lose our company culture somewhere along the way?”

This post was inspired by a deep conversation with my good friend “Bob” who stated “When they decided all desks are open, take what u get and leave it sanitized…basically squashed any culture of a person”

A multitude of various actions over the past decade have led to an erosion of what we would call the “office culture”.?

The loss of company culture can be traced back to a shift in cost-saving measures, such as reducing the number of printers in the workplace. The printer was not only a practical tool for printing documents, but it also served as a social hub where employees could engage in casual conversations while waiting for their materials to print. In addition, the discovery of abandoned documents at the printer, such as interesting business plans or product ideas, provided an opportunity for employees to initiate a conversation with a colleague by returning the document to its owner. These impromptu interactions often led to the exchange of ideas and opportunities for collaboration across teams, and the elimination of this physical gathering place has likely had a negative impact on the company culture and the spontaneous interactions that fostered a sense of community within the organization.

The reduction of printing has also led to the loss of physical research papers and powerpoint decks being left on desks, which served as conversation starters when colleagues dropped by. Without these visible printouts, there is less opportunity for impromptu conversations and the exchange of ideas. This lack of physical materials on individual’s desks contributed to the decline in spontaneous, ad-hoc conversations within the company.

During a recent interview at a company that values personalization of desks, it was refreshing to see books and printouts on various topics displayed on the interviewer's desk. This unexpected display sparked an interesting conversation about the interviewer's career path and provided insight into the company's culture of assigned desks. This highlights the importance of personalization and the role it can play in fostering a unique company culture.

The implementation of a "hoteling" model, similar to the concept of WeWork, in which employees share desks or randomly choose a seat, has had a number of unintended consequences on company culture. While this model may increase collaboration within teams, it can also make it difficult to locate specific individuals within the company, especially in large buildings. As teams tend to congregate in the same seats, an unwritten "assigned seats" rule often emerges, leading to a loss of location context in the corporate directory. This can be frustrating and time-consuming for employees trying to track down a colleague. Additionally, the shift away from assigned desks may also contribute to a loss of personalization and a decline in the unique culture that can be cultivated through the use of personalized workspaces.

The loss of assigned or "named" desks has had a significant impact on company culture by disrupting daily routines and disrupting the sense of predictability that can come from having a fixed workspace. When employees have a designated desk, they can develop a daily rhythm that includes dropping off their bag and interacting with colleagues in common areas like the kitchen. This routine helps to set the tone for the workday and allows coworkers to become familiar with each other's habits and schedules. Without a fixed desk, it becomes more difficult to establish this sense of rhythm and predictability, which can contribute to a decline in the sense of community and culture within the organization.

Lack of assigned seating also deprives employees of the opportunity to personalize their workspace with photos and physical objects that can serve as conversation starters and sources of inspiration. Personal touches like these can help to create a sense of individuality and encourage interactions with colleagues. In the past, coming across an interesting photo or puzzle on a coworker's desk may have provided an excuse to linger and engage in a casual conversation. Without the ability to display these personal items in a fixed workspace, it becomes more difficult to foster these types of connections and spontaneous interactions within the company.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the shift to remote work have had a profound impact on company culture, particularly through the use of virtual communication platforms like Zoom. The lack of personalization in Zoom profiles, such as the use of default profile pictures or the refusal to enable video, can contribute to a sense of sterility and disconnection within the virtual workplace. This can be especially detrimental to companies that rely on in-person interactions and personal connections to foster a strong sense of culture and community.

Call to Action:

If CEO's want to rebuild company culture and encourage employees to return to the office post-COVID, there are several steps that can be taken to address the loss of productivity and sense of community. Some ideas for rebuilding company culture in 2023 might include:

1. Encouraging personalization of workspaces, whether in the office or at home. This can include allowing employees to bring in personal objects or photos to display on their desks.
2. Providing opportunities for impromptu interactions and casual conversations, such as through the use of social hubs or by encouraging employees to take breaks and gather in common areas.
3. Promoting the use of video and personalization in virtual communication platforms like Zoom to foster a sense of connection and personality within the remote workplace.
4. Encouraging team-building activities and outings to help rebuild relationships and foster a sense of community within the organization.

By addressing these issues and finding ways to rebuild company culture, CEO's can help to increase productivity and promote a sense of belonging among their employees.

Let’s start 2023 with a bang! Here's to a successful and impactful new year!

(This article was edited using ChatGPT by OpenAI)