(BIZTALKRADIO) SHOW 11: MIXING INOFFICE & REMOTE WORK - WILLIAM EASTMAN

This is a very hot topic right now, The pandemic has created a new set of expectations and opportunities. Here are a few thoughts to prime the pump for today's show.

Starting with Boomers, Gen B (57-75), they are finally ready to leave the workforce. Their absence will create the need for capable people to fill their shoes. I'm sure some of you have been waiting this for a while.

Gen X (Millennials 45-56) - have been waiting for the opportunity to get the Boomers out of the way and finally reach real levels of leadership. They have grown accustomed to working remotely but also understand the need for real face time.

Gen Y (27-44) - are much more attuned to the idea of work-life balance, the challenge is they use different standards. Unlike the Gen B and Gen Y employees, their idea of balance is something approaching 50%.

Gen Z (26 and below) - don't really understand the need to travel to a place of work. They are the most technology enabled and therefore comfortable with working online 90%+ of the time.

SUMMARY
Over the last 18 months people have become accustomed to working remotely and depending on the generation or age group have different opinions and expectations.

The research data on productivity indicates that employment that is almost all remote has lower productivity; that is individual, team, and enterprise wide. It also appears that some of the productivity loss is off-set by lower operating costs. The jury is out if it is a wash but there is another problem that is hard to overcome with technology - maintaining a culture.

TOPICS

1. What is the right mix of Inoffice and Remote work?
2. What additional or new demands does it place on technology?
3. How do you maintain and grow the right culture?

INSIGHTS

• ​BIZTALKRADIO (REAL HELP WANTED SERIES): SHOW 3 TRADING TIME FOR MONEY OR ALL IN?

First you are dealing with different standards for answering the question based on the generation. What Gen X thinks is the right mix is not the same as younger generations.

Second, each generation brings a different work ethic to the party. Gen B and Gen X are more alike than not. Their work ethic is the job is not done until it is done, not when the work day is over. They are probably the best candidates for Remote Work because an unsupervised day requires self discipline. 

Third the generations that really see's this as a better deal usually lack the self-discipline to work in an unsupervised environment. They love Remote work but are the best candidates for that environment.

What a challenge!

APPLICATION

1. Start with making the decision of what activities require face time such as collectively working through problems that cannot be accomplished virtually. Here is a model to help make that decision.
   1. Alignment - at the start of a project or job, the goal is to get everybody on the same page with goals (results) and objectives (activities). Face to Face is a good choice.
   2. Calibration - over the span of the project bringing everybody up to speed on the various elements of the project or job to ensure deadlines will be met within the standards identified during Alignment - Virtual is a good choice.
   3. Results - at the conclusion of a project or task how well did the final product/service meet the standards and lessons learned - Face to Face is a good choice.
   4. Huddles - end of the day conversation about what happened that day and what help is needed for tomorrow - Virtual is a good choice.
   5. Celebrations - time spent congratulating and enjoying the accomplishments over a specified period or at the end of a project or job. Face to Face is a good choice.
2. This will require some redesign of work. Unless you have implemented something similar during the pandemic, this will require the owner/executive to rethink everything. It is possible to achieve the benefits of higher work performance and maintaining or growing the culture.
   1. Alignment assures everybody starts with clarity especially on deadlines and how work will be measured
   2. Calibration requires people to report progress to date and applied some of the same work discipline as being onsite with you.
   3. Results is a post mortem on the project or job and a great opportunity to learn though continuous improvement. This is also a covert method of holding people accountable for their contribution - who want's to look stupid in front of their peers?
   4. Huddles is the discipline of a deadline and is a daily check on work, another way of forcing people to not look stupid.
3. Now is the time for the big question. How well does your current technology enable a working model as detailed? You probably need 3 platforms to make it work.
   1. Real time instant messaging; example Slack.com
   2. Common space for work assignments and tracking as well as access to materials; example Monday.com
   3. Common space for meeting virtually; example Zoom.com

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Closing
There is not a generic right answer for every business. We run a remote operation with little face time and have made it work on three platforms. Other than Slack we made different choices for projects and meetings. 

If you want more assistance beyond what is contained in the LIVE show, podcast, or the corresponding notes, I am available to help. Join one of our groups on social media or leave a comment below. Thanx bill.