Going into the Office for the First Time?

by Elizabeth Grace Saunders

Source- https://hbr.org/2024/02/going-into-the-office-for-the-first-time

Summary-?

More and more workplaces are beginning to call employees back to the office. If you started your career during the pandemic, this may be a big shift for you. How can you manage it? Here are a few tips to help reduce your stress, and set you up for success:

1. Reimagine your routine: Figure out what time you need to be at your desk, and then rework your schedule to make sure you’ll be there on time. This may involve waking up earlier to run a few errands and calculating your commute.
2. Get the right gear: Think about what you’ll need to feel comfortable at work. For instance, you may need a backpack to carry your laptop to and from the office, or noise-canceling headphones to help you avoid distractions.
3. Update your tech: Reach out to your IT department ahead of time to make sure you have everything you need to set up your laptop when you arrive.
4. Pay attention to office culture: The culture in the office may look different than it did online. Observe how people act in meetings, how often your colleagues take breaks, and what appropriate work clothes look like.
5. Embrace the opportunity: Even though it may feel scary at first, returning to the office is a great chance to network and grow your visibility. Take advantage of this by interacting with your peers, your boss, and your coworkers regularly.

If you’re someone who began your career since 2020, it’s possible that you have little experience showing up to your job in person. In fact, for many of you, this year may be your first in the office. A recent survey shows that 90% of employers with office space or who plan to have office space will ask their employees to come in regularly by the end of 2024. That’s a big increase for the U.S., which currently has a 55% return to office rate compared to Europe at 75% and Asia-Pacific at 85% .

For everyone — but especially for those who entered the workforce during the pandemic — this shift may bring up conflicting emotions, including excitement for the chance to connect with colleagues, apprehension around a potentially long commute, and curiosity about the new environment. These feelings are normal, and you should expect to make some adjustments.

The most obvious? You’ll no longer be able to roll out of bed and work from your couch or take care of everyday errands during the day. You will have more time to grab lunch with peers, ask questions without setting up Zoom meetings, and ward off the sense of isolation that comes when it’s just you and your screen.

So, how can you successfully navigate this transition?

Here are my top tips for reentering the office with as little stress and anxiety as possible.

Reimagine your routine.

When you return to the office, you’ll need to rethink all the different components of your schedule. Find out when you need to be at your desk and then work backwards, reorganizing your current routine to ensure that you show up on time.

For example, let’s say that you need to be at your desk by 8:30 am. This is what working backwards might sound like:

I want to be walking in the office doors by 8:15 am to give myself a few minutes to put down my things, go to the bathroom, and get a cup of coffee. That means I need to leave my home by 7:45 am to give myself a few minutes to get to my car or the train stop, 20 minutes to commute, and then some margin for walking to the building.

You can run through this thought process for the remainder of your day as well, thinking through when you’ll exercise after work, how you’ll get groceries, and what you want to do for meal prep. I recommend doing a dry run of your routine at least once before you officially need to show up at work, just to make sure your estimates are accurate.

Pro tip:

If you’re a caretaker or have responsibilities outside of work that you were able to manage alone while working remotely, you’ll likely need to find extra support for those tasks. That could look like hiring a dog walker, coordinating a carpooling schedule for your kids, or asking a family member or friend (or hiring a professional if possible) to help care for a loved one at home.

Get the right gear.

As you organize the new flow of your day, you’ll want to think through what gear you’ll need for working away from home. This might involve investing in a laptop bag or backpack to carry your work equipment when you commute, getting waterproof boots if you need to walk outside in the elements, or clothes and shoes that are office appropriate now that your colleagues won’t just be seeing you via Zoom.

You should also consider what you’ll need to feel comfortable and productive in your new space. If you plan to pack your own food, for example, you may need a lunch cooler, ice packs, and a thermos. If you work in an open area and are easily distracted by sounds, you may want to purchase ear plugs or noise-cancelling headphones. If the temperature in your office is cooler than you like, bring an extra sweater or blanket for the back of your chair. If you want to make your desk feel more like home, frame a photo that brings you joy, or bring your favorite plant, and set it on your desk.

Pro tip:

Returning to the office can be a fun, fresh start — similar to the feeling of going back to school after summer break. Write a “back-to-the-office” checklist to make sure you have everything you need. You may find new things to add to your list as you spend more time in the office.

Update your tech.

If you don’t already know the IT department’s contact information, find it before you return in person. The last thing you want to do is show up at the office and be hit with a long list of technical difficulties when trying to connect to the company’s intranet or other internal systems. To avoid a stressful start, do a little research. What do you need to know to set up your desktop once you arrive? Often, the most straightforward way to gain this information is to reach out to IT and ask.

To avoid becoming overly stressed, you should expect a slight learning curve when you arrive. After all, this is your first time in a new space. You may need some training on how to book a conference room, share your presentation on the big screen during team meetings, and dock your laptop into your work station. Give yourself some grace your first day or two back in the office as you figure out these logistics.

Pro tip:

Some offices require employees to have a special ID or passcode to gain access to the parking lot or building. If your company hasn’t already provided you with this information, reach out to your manager to find out the protocol, as well as what steps you should take to get what you need. This will help you avoid the stress of being locked out on your first day back — which is never fun.

Pay attention to the office culture.

Even if you’ve been in your position for a while, you may need to do some relearning to fully understand the office culture, which may look different in person than online.

For instance, traditional, in-person environments can be less flexible than remote ones. Your boss may not have noticed if you signed in a few minutes late when you worked remotely, but being at your desk on time may actually be important to them. Now that you’re physically visible, punctuality can be a sign that you’re a committed and responsible team member. Or perhaps when you worked remotely it was okay to check out early and grab coffee with a friend, and then put in some extra time later that night. Now that you’re in person, leaving early could raise some eyebrows.

To avoid any mishaps, it’s best to check in with your boss around how flexible or stringent the in-office culture is at your organization. The amount of face time you have in the office may not be a big deal to one manager and may be a huge deal to another. If your boss says it’s important to be at your desk by 8:30 am, take their word for it.

Other areas to pay attention to include:

• Team and organizational meetings. Is it important to be in the room a few minutes early? Should you always book a conference room or meet in more informal spaces? Will you need a pad of paper, tablet, or computer to take notes?
• Break times. How long do lunch breaks typically last? How many breaks do people take throughout the day? Do you need to let your manager or team members know when you’re stepping out for an appointment? Is it okay to run quick errands if they don’t disrupt your schedule?
• Dress code. Is it more formal or casual? Are there certain meetings, such as ones with external clients, where it’s important to dress up? What footwear do you need to move around comfortably?
• Socialization. Should you be asking people about their weekend on Monday mornings? Is it expected that you’ll go out to lunch with your colleagues or join them for happy hour? Do people celebrate birthdays in the office, and if so, is a card or another acknowledgement the norm?

Pay attention to how your colleagues and peers behave in these areas. If you need a little guidance, the easiest thing you can do is ask a trusted peer.

Pro tip:

When it comes to taking breaks, you don’t need to be paranoid and track how many times you go to the bathroom. But it is important to be aware that how you show up in the office can have an impact on others’ perception of you. In some environments, being punctual and showing commitment to the work can give others a more favorable impression of you, which can lead to more growth opportunities down the line.

Embrace the opportunity.

You may have a few butterflies in your stomach when thinking about all the details involved in returning to the office, but remember that this is also an amazing opportunity for your career. With much less effort, you can connect with your colleagues. You’ll be able to drop by their desks and say “hi,” chat while refilling your coffee in the kitchen, and even invite people out for an in-person lunch. You can network with people in other departments simply by walking down the hall, and ask quick questions without having to schedule a formal meeting.

One study found that 53% of 18- to 29-year-olds said it’s been difficult for them to be motivated to do their work when they’re not in-person with their colleagues. So, if you’ve felt a bit disengaged or disconnected lately, perhaps you’ll discover a renewed sense of motivation when you’re surrounded by coworkers and community.

Pro tip:

Use in-person work to your advantage to build momentum on new or difficult projects. If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed or unsure where to start, drop by a colleague’s desk, or schedule a brainstorming session. Talking about things in the same room can help you gain clarity and confidence you need to get started.

Follow these steps as you plan to return to work, and you’ll likely find that some of your initial stress slowly begins to dissipate. Change is never comfortable, but the more prepared you are, the more confident you’ll be entering your new environment. Who knows, you may even enjoy it.