intelligent

Recently , our team planned a day of training and fun . Much of our London team is new to the company , so it was a great opportunity to provide some on-site coaching . We , of course , capped the day off with a fancy dinner and bonding time playing cricket . Being together helps us build stronger relationships and a sense of belonging at work . I don ’ t want to sit at a desk the entire day , but I do want to be there to connect with folks , brainstorm on a white board and move key projects forward . And maybe gather a few folks together to have coffee or drink after work .

We need to be intentional when planning workdays

Before COVID , if I was working on a crossfunctional project , I knew at some point I would run into the person I needed to pair with . I likely knew exactly where they sat within the office and what time they typically arrived . In a 100 % remote environment , that type of spontaneous interaction isn ’ t possible .

One of the great benefits of hybrid work is being able to see your colleagues in person again . But that only works if you can coordinate hybrid schedules . No one wants to commute all the way to the office to discover that the co-workers you needed to see are at home . These days , you need to know who will be in the office and when .

Encouraging team days or in-person working sessions has added a layer of purpose to our time in the office . I know why I ’ m coming in on a specific day and how I should prepare because I know who will be there with me . This means that I can spend my work from home days on more heads-down , strategic work . This type of intention leads to incredible productivity .

Shadowing is best done in-office

We learn best by observing others – and shadowing those that are the best at what they do . That ’ s why opportunities to learn on the job are essential when we talk about shepherding

THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT IN- PERSON INTERACTIONS THAT YOU CAN ’ T REPLICATE OVER ZOOM .