Remote Working

Technology certainly enables home working in an ever-improving fashion and its something my company did for years, well before it was topical. That said I favour a hybrid model with teams managing how that works (not managers). There are obvious social and learning benefits from working in an office with your team; being able to tap someone on the shoulder and ask a question, organising an impromptu huddle to solve a problem, go and have a coffee and a catch up with a colleague etc. The best technology can not replicate that direct human contact. Team members benefit from that in-person interaction in all sorts of ways. Equally daily commutes are a pain and unproductive. Modern life also means that sometimes people need to be at home for a particular reason or just because they want to be. A hybrid model which allows team members to work from home as they need to but encourages working from the office for some days during the week certainly worked well for me and my team over the years. The best of both worlds. I hope you are well Ryan.

Yep I do think it has changed the way we work and will do forever!

Good article and insight Ryan. Given Lord Sugar is someone who loves productivity and efficiency in his staff and no doubt keeps a firm eye on profitabikity, you would think things like lowering the cost of office space (and the associated costs with an office ie Fruit, confectionaries, general office requirements) + the general uplift in productivity (resulting in more sales / more revenue) - he would maybe be a little more embracing or open to it wouldn’t you. I’m actually a little shocked tbf. Although I enjoy going to an office, conversing and generally having a ‘work space’ away from home (and associated distractions), you’d imagine that COVID would have now enlightened those sceptics. We should embrace home working / remote working - not condemn it just because ‘’that’s what you think” Lord Sugar. I enjoy an office atmosphere too.... but I also enjoy profitability and the knowing that the team have a favourable work/life balance. Everyone wins. Nice one Ryan ????

Here's a link to a remote working playbook from the guys I worked with at Equal Experts https://www.equalexperts.com/blog/our-thinking/r-ee-mote-working-playbook/

Hope you are keeping well Ryan. I agree with your sentiments. We know that technology is a key enabler of business transformation and that the technology sector was an early adopter of remote working. We also know that not all roles are suitable for this. Personally, I've used technology enabled remote working on numerous occasions over the last 20+ years with geographically dispersed teams whether onsite, offsite, nearshore or offshore across numerous sectors. It has been overwhelmingly successful and I've been able to demonstrate at Board level where we have subsequently increased (lasting) productivity levels. Personally, the key is to constantly re-evaluate and learn. A blended model seems to work best where some time is spent in the office (almost akin to a 'rolling rota' basis) where you still have social interaction with different people at different points. Remote working without that type of model can lead to an exponential increase in mental health and wellbeing issues. Again, this is purely my personal experience with responsibility for large teams over a long period of time. Increased workforce flexibility can correlate to increased productivity gains. Empower your people.....and trust them.