Work Place Environments Are Not A One Size Fits All
In a world of “hot takes” and “click-bate,” I think it’s important to ground ourselves and realize that no one, including myself, has the “special sauce” when it comes to hybrid work environments; in fact, I would recommend steering clear of anyone who claims as such. Work environments, like the employees who make them up, are all uniquely different and should be approached as such.
In today’s rapidly changing work environment, it is time to reevaluate how things are done; however, the decision of change or lack there thereof is something that each organization and employee needs to make for themselves. Like most things in life your workplace location does not have one cut-and-dry solution, there are inevitable tradeoffs that should not be considered lightly but rather strategically thought through. This blog is not a template for employees or organizations to follow necessarily but rather a personal anecdote that may serve as encouragement for others trying to navigate the new style of the workforce that we find ourselves in.
When I was first hired at Ngage Management, the pandemic had mandated stay-at-home orders that resulted in work-from-home styles for many, and I was no exception. I was onboarded as a full-time remote employee in September 2020 and while there were many unknowns, I quickly realized some of the perks. One of my top five CliftonStrengths is context, and so I celebrated the small victory of garnering so much of it from virtual meetings. Not only could I see everyone’s name on the screen (which helped significantly with learning who’s-who quicker than I might have in-office), but I was able to pull up other reference points (e.g., org charts, documents, Google) and utilize the information to acclimate faster to my environment. These advantages had me off to a great start and I was sure that remote work would last for the duration of my career. Next slide.
As a naturally risk-adverse person, once it was determined that we would in fact be returning to the office, I was hesitant. Why ruin a good thing? I was also afraid to lose some of my momentum; I had my rituals and processes that were now being threatened with what I imagined as interruptions and inconveniences. I was only half right.
Our first week back with everyone in the office felt like walking into a new job entirely. Even simple communication felt unnatural after IM’ing for so long with coworkers. I found myself questioning whether or not it would it be okay to go into someone’s office and talk in person, or if we would continue to send Teams messages back and forth even though we were now close enough to hear each other typing. I missed what I knew and was unsure how to navigate what I didn’t know (everyone’s working style and communications preferences – including my own).
Luckily the micro nuances quickly faded, our team adapted naturally and learned how to communicate and work together. It wasn’t long before the benefit of everyone working in office became clear. The collaboration began to truly take hold and meetings started to flow much smoother without the interruptions that naturally come with remote calls (lagging internet, someone talking on mute, etc.). Our relationships deepened as a result of our time together as we transitioned from 30-second “how was your weekend” chit- chat before promptly starting a virtual meeting to staff walks during breaks and talking regularly in the hallways and at the water cooler. There was an organic rhythm to being in-person and we were better for it.
Now, it would be nice if this was where the story ended, and I could talk about the power of people and adaptability; if I could use this shift from fully remote to hybrid to illustrate the effectiveness of strong teams, great communication, and a little bit of elbow grease. Alas, an additional chapter proceeded this one and though I am still in the early stages of my career, I do consider myself seasoned in the art of hybrid work models.
I felt like I blinked, and another season was upon us: Fall 2021. My fiancé and I were planning our wedding and beginning to map out what our lives might look like once she finished school. After many long conversations, reflection, and an immense amount of prayer, we felt led to leave our hometown (where we met and grew up together) and we decided to move to North Carolina. Personally, it was clear it was the right choice. Professionally, I had no desire to leave Ngage (and specifically the people I worked with).
Fortunately, the company embraced my relocation and though I was so grateful to stay on a team I had come to love, once again my risk-adverse personality began to creep in and plant seeds of uncertainty. Would I still be able to conduct my job effectively? Would my job satisfaction decline now that I won’t see my coworkers daily that I had come to enjoy being around so much? Am I going to have to go back to referencing screens to recall names and utilizing documents to form thoughts?
The answer, like most hybrid situations, includes adapting to a new normal. In the five short months since I have been working fully remote, Ngage has hired new people whom I have come to know via photos and Teams calls. While it is different than being able to shake their hands and connect with them in the office, it is simply that: different. I know not every industry or business sector is able to offer full-time employees the opportunity to work from home – let alone in a different state. And, conversely, I know that some companies can’t afford not to. I myself have landed somewhere in the middle and even though I am sure my current status is inevitably subject to change again, I wanted to share some major takeaways/tips for adapting to your environment and being the most successful you can be.
Find a company that embraces change/workstyles
Mutual trust between employer and employee is invaluable
Never assume something before a conversation is had
Whether it’s a workstyle change, desired salary, or even complete change of position, I’ve learned that a lot of good can come from a simple open dialogue rather than assuming how your company/superior will respond to a request.
It is important to consistently challenge and stretch yourself to achieve whatever professional success looks like to you. As I continue to revise what that success looks like for myself, I have proven to myself that my goals and ambitions no longer need to be restricted to a geographical location.
Zach Wilber is a Marketing and Analytics Strategist on the Marketing and Communications team at Ngage Management
