Thursday 27 July 2023
Reset the Conversation Around Remote Work on Your Team
It’s been years since the WFH boom in 2020, but the debate surrounding remote work only seems to be getting more polarized. How can you and your employees agree on a path forward? Finding common ground requires resetting the dialogue with your team.
(1) Start by taking accountability.
Lead by example and own up to any missteps you’ve made along the way, emphasizing that everyone is navigating these uncharted waters for the first time. Next, clearly articulate expectations and ground rules for the discussion.
(2) A fruitful conversation depends on a shared sense of psychological safety; employees need to feel like they won’t be met with reprisal for sharing their needs and constraints (like cost-of-living challenges or family demands), just as leaders must be able to speak honestly about the pressures they’re facing (like competition pressures or changing market demands).
(3) It’s also important to avoid overly simplistic, black-and-white language like “Remote productivity is just as good as in person” or “Face-to-face is better for culture” and instead acknowledge the nuances of the issue.
(4) Finally, come to a collective understanding about your team’s new remote work guidelines—and repeat this process periodically to update them as needed.
This tip is adapted from “Tension Is Rising Around Remote Work,” by Mark Mortensen
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