Work from anywhere (Part 2)

In July 2020 when we packed up our family home we had no idea that in the following 18 months we would move house 13 times. It was an incredible experience, we learnt a lot about what is important for our family, our home and our general well-being. I wrote more about the experience here (2) Work from anywhere - choosing a Nomadic life during Covid | LinkedIn.?We have just settled for the longer term, but the experience has left an everlasting impression on how we want to live. Our adventures have got me thinking about the new patterns that will emerge in the coming months and years.

Hybrid =?Office + Home + Somewhere else

Have you ever noticed a change in the backgrounds of your teammates on video calls? The normal office chat has been replaced with "Are you in the kitchen today?" or "Is that a new painting?" or a quizzical "Where are you?". This summer, I noticed that sometimes people were neither at home, nor in the office, but at a third location. Indeed Airbnb CEO @Brian Chesky reported that "Mondays and Tuesday are the fastest growing travel days of the week" and thousands of people are extending their holidays or just shaking things up with a change of scenery. Therefore hybrid working is not just a balance of office and home but a mix of office + home + somewhere else. For those that can, this will form part of the new normal and there will be an explosion of new businesses and leisure opportunities as a result.

?True Digital nomads

?There is a growing community of digital nomads who are encouraging and supporting each others work and travel. Indeed my wife @Caroline Arora and I were contacted by several lovely people who encouraged our journey and gave us tips as well as recommendations for places. What made us atypical is that we were digital nomads with children. However, we learnt that?(i) you can work from anywhere within commute of school (ii) children are far more resilient than adults (iii) we all need less 'stuff' and being nomadic significantly enhances what you value in life.

In the same way our kids don't know the world before WIFI, there are people entering the world of work who will know nothing else apart from remote working.?Not a mix of at home and in the office, not even a set of core hours but complete flexibility on how, where and when they work. I predict that some will spend their entire careers this way.

?The challenge and opportunity for organisations

?I am fascinated by the debate about the return to work. Globally,?leaders from the political and business world are making predictions or even demands of what the future of world will look like. Whilst the options are endless the debate can be quite narrow with two archetypes getting the most headlines…

?The insistence to "get back to work" - There are leaders today who demand that people must return to the office five days-a-week with no further conversation. Its 2022 and yes, for some presenteeism is still a thing of great importance.

?Those that?say "when I need to". At first glance this point of view makes a lot of sense, but in the extreme, can be equally myopic. The word "need" is problematic as it means different things to different people. Technology means that almost every experience can be replaced by technology from going to the movies to finding a life long partner. Humans have long evolved beyond their basic needs. If we only do we what is needed we miss the opportunity for some of those unplanned and unexpected interactions that end up being the best.

The challenge is that work and home are blending and how one lives is deeply personal. For some it will mean more time in the office, for others less. Factors can be pragmatic e.g. commute, family circumstances, space at home and nature of job, company. They can also be based on personal preference e.g. learning style, personality, confidence or loneliness. … the list is endless.

?In summary, the cork is out of the bottle. The future is more flexible and flexibility, along with salary, training and career opportunities is now a key pillar of an organisation's employee value proposition. Companies and leaders will need to rethink policies, modernise technology and above all, evolve their mindset. Simply put: provide flexibility or risk losing some of your best talents.