Where are your Team Members doing their best work?

Covid restrictions are in the rearview mirror!?Is there a collective sigh of relief?

Hmmm….?Maybe not!

We went from having very few options about how and where to work, now we are free to choose.

Strange as it is, we can get comfortable in our discomfort.?The concept of getting back to normal, even a ‘new normal’ provokes feelings that ranges from unsettling to high stress and anxiety.?Our brains prefer routines that keep us safe.

Questions are being asked about the expectations of being in the office full time, part time or staying full time remote.?There are pros and cons with each arrangement.?None of the options are perfect solutions.?And no one option is good for everyone.?While each has its benefits, there are downsides.?Let’s consider the three ‘location’ options of work:

Full time at office/facility

1.?????Commuting hassles: cost of gas, transit fares, inconvenience, and time it takes to commute.?

2.?????Workspace accommodations (hassles):?more interruptions; it is noisier, (at least for those who had childcare arrangements while working from home); more distractions; office politics and personality differences.

3.?????Hassles with change:?re-establishing workflow, casual interactions, negotiating meeting times and connecting with other staff who might be hybrid or remote.

Hybrid location attendance

1.?????All of the above, plus the extra skill and accommodation of adjusting to office and work at home continuously throughout the week.

Full time remote

This option can sound exotic and the best way to work, being able to work from anywhere in the world and doing work in self-designed comfort.?But there are costs with this too.?

1.?????Lack of connection.

2.?????Questions of how you contribute and integrate on team projects.

3.?????Concern about missing out on promotions.

4.?????Keeping current with the latest decision or direction.

Since one size only fits one, how does an organization proceed with establishing a policy or even a short-term plan??

There is a, good news, bad news, type of answer to this question.?The answer is simple, but it’s not easy.?

Communication, the speaking skill of communication is easy, but listening to understand, not reply, judge or reject is not as easy.?It takes time and intentionality.?Listening to connect means that you listen without anticipating responses and asking questions to which you don’t yet know the answer.?Even if you cannot say yes to every arrangement or suggestion offered by your Team Members, you CAN listen to connect.?When people feel heard and are given time to express themselves without fear of repercussions, you gain their trust and their commitment.?

There are three channels of communication that are froth with pitfalls: 1. Our own internal conversation, 2. The conversation between individuals and 3. The system-wide communication processes.?

Here are some pitfalls and tips to avoid in of each channel.

1.?????Communication within our mind.?We have fears, biases and judgements of ourselves, others and the situation that influence how we communicate to others, even before we speak.?As explained in “Leadership & Self Deception” by Arbinger Institute, we deceive ourselves and blur reality by being aware of our own needs and situation, expecting others to be responsive to us. When people don’t agree or respond as we expect, we feel justified in doing things our way.?

Pro Tip:?Check your mindset and inner conversation before entering a conversation with an employee.?It is important to recognize your bias, name it, then set it aside so that you can be fully present and ready to hear what someone has to say.

2.?????Communication with others.?We can ask others what they want, but typically we listen to respond, not to understand.?We start forming a reply long before they finish their sentence, and it often sounds like... “we can’t do that” or “I don’t know how that could work”.?Even if we don’t say those things out loud our body conveys those dismissive messages through our posture, eye movements and breathing patterns.

Pro Tip:?As soon as you ask your employee what their opinion is, pause and calm your mind chatter, carefully and mindfully listen to every word they say.?You can try focusing on their choice of words, their eyes, their lip movements so that you hear every word they say before you consider your response.

3.?????Communication through company-wide systems.?Company-wide surveys are a convenient and equitable way to get everyone’s opinion on a specific topic or to gauge engagement and satisfaction. But it is a blunt instrument that is useful for identify trends over time.?But it not good to draw out nuanced perspectives and opinions if not combined with 1 to 1 conversations within a team or department.?People tend not to trust that their voice was heard, particularly if they don’t have an opportunity to provide feedback to the summarized results.

Pro Tip:?Meet 1 to 1 with each of your Team Members to review the summary of the engagement survey.?Ask them how they feel about the report and if they feel their perspective is represented.?And if not, ask them to tell you how they feel.

The human species is hardwired to connect and live in community.?Workplaces are communities.?Whether they work in the facility full time, part time or work remotely, people will continue to contribute and support the goals of the company if they feel connected to the community.?

In Judith E Glaser’s words, author of “Conversational Intelligence”

“To get to the next level of greatness depends on the quality of the culture,

which depends on the quality of the relationships,

which depends on the quality of the conversations.

Everything happens through conversations!”