At the beginning of the pandemic, when offices went dark, team gatherings were cancelled, and “from home” became our new way of working, a lot of workers grumbled.
Blurred lines between home and work, dealing with remote technology (no tech support team!), and missing collaboration and camaraderie with their teams were typical complaints.
And then…they adapted.
Now, as more and more companies are calling their workers back to the office, not everyone is jumping for joy. In fact, 72% of respondents to a PwC survey said they would like to continue working from home for at least 2 days a week. And 32% of those surveyed by Owl Labs said they would quit their job if they were not able to continue working remotely.
So, as a leader, how can you smooth the transition back to the office and reignite your team?
Here are some tips.
Be flexible. Meet with each of your team members and, as much as possible, create a work schedule that aligns with their personal needs as they transition.
Manage your expectations. Just as they had to adapt their work style to a remote model, they’ll need to adapt again to working in the office. The commute, dropping the kids at school or childcare, and “dressing for success” have been on hold for more than two years. Give them grace as they find their way back to working in an office.
Reconnect your team. Create plenty of opportunities for team members to gather and get to know one another again. No doubt you’ve had lots of Zoom meetings and, perhaps, video socials, but it’s not the same as chatting in the same room eyeball to eyeball!
Conduct a re-onboarding. Hold an onboarding event to officially welcome employees who were hired over the past two years and perhaps are meeting their teammates in person for the first time. Use this event to remind everyone about the company vision, mission, and values, as well as your vision for the team. Allow time for questions, concerns, and suggestions.
Check in. Now, more than ever, is the time to follow that tried-and-true principle MBWA – management by walking around. Make time to check in with each of your team members. We are in an environment where workers have a lot of opportunities, don’t let them walk away.
They may have come back to the office, but how will you get them to stay?
Till next time, keep it real.
Karen
