As we continue to navigate the evolving workplace in 2025, Andreas and Tim explore how businesses should assess the effectiveness of remote, hybrid, or in-office work structures. They challenge the traditional focus on attendance and instead advocate for a focus on outcomes.?
From leadership strategies to communication breakdowns, they provide practical advice for evaluating work models and ensuring alignment with company goals. The episode emphasizes the importance of clear communication, understanding the purpose of each role, and measuring actual business outcomes over just showing up to work.
- Return to Office vs. Work From Home: A Changing Debate Andreas and Tim discuss the ongoing debate around the return to office (RTO) and remote work, emphasizing that the conversation should move beyond just location and focus on what outcome is expected from each role or team. Companies should ask: "What is the outcome we're trying to achieve?"
- Outcome Over Attendance Traditional models of measuring productivity by attendance (badge-in, 8am–4pm) are outdated. The focus should shift to evaluating the results employees deliver rather than when they show up to the office. If employees can’t articulate the value they add, that's a fundamental problem.
- The Importance of Understanding Strategy A staggering 95% of employees don’t understand their company’s strategy, and 90% of organizations fail to execute their strategies successfully. This communication gap results in poor alignment across teams and a lack of focus on delivering tangible outcomes.
- Clarity of Role and Contribution Every employee, from frontline staff to executives, should understand their specific role and how their work contributes to the company’s broader mission and goals. If employees are unsure of their purpose or how their work impacts the company’s success, that’s a major red flag.
- Effective Communication Is Key Communication breakdowns often occur in organizations, especially with the shift to remote or hybrid work. Leaders must clearly articulate expectations, roles, and company goals. Miscommunication creates confusion and impacts productivity, whether working from home or in the office.
- The Need for Organizational Transparency Leaders must ensure that every employee knows why they are there and what they are contributing. Without transparency, employees may struggle to see the purpose behind their work, which can lead to disengagement.
- Ownership and Pride in Work Creating a culture where employees feel ownership and pride in their work is essential. When workers take pride in their contributions, whether cleaning or managing projects, they go beyond the basics and contribute innovative ideas that improve company operations.
- Tim: "It’s not just about showing up. It’s about what you’re doing to create value for the company and for the client. If you don’t know that, that’s where the problem lies."
- Andreas: "You can’t just drink your own Kool-Aid. You have to make sure your people understand the strategy and know how they contribute to it."
As businesses look ahead to 2025, the debate over work structure—remote, hybrid, or in-office—will continue to evolve. The key takeaway from today’s discussion is that businesses must focus on the outcomes employees are producing rather than simply measuring attendance. If employees understand their roles, feel connected to the company’s mission, and see how their contributions matter, productivity and engagement will naturally follow.
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If you’re looking to dig deeper into the principles we discussed, check out our book, Stop Doing Stupid Stuff?, for more insights on improving work efficiency and outcomes.
