Remote work: Reimagining the modern-day office, and redefining collaboration

​Just when you think we have talked enough about remote work, I have some ideas to pile on. Our March CliffsNotes Book Club discussion was on the book Remote, Not Distant by Gustavo Razzetti. (Many thanks to Mary Power for leading the lively, info-packed discussion! If you missed it, check out the notes on the portal.)
 
Razzetti sparked some interesting ideas, in particular discussions of mindset shifts. That is, for years we have been thinking about “workplace” and “office” with a specific frame. It’s time to shift our thinking.

Remote, Not Distant – Key Takeaways

Virtual First. Remember a few years back when smart phones were starting to win us over? If you designed a website at that time, someone who was more tech savvy would nudge you and say, “Remember, mobile first!” It was a reminder to ensure that the interface you were designing would work well on a smaller screen. Now, just a decade later, it’s second nature, right? Well, Razzetti urges us to make a similar mindset shift as it relates to designing meetings, etc. He calls for a “virtual first” mindset. That is, design with virtual in mind first, regardless of whether you are virtual or hybrid.

Rethink the Purpose of an Office. If you have spent decades “going to the office” for work, you likely have a set idea of what “office” looks like, and how it’s used. I am thinking about things such as what activities take place there, what time of day it’s active, and who participates, etc. Razzetti urges us to rethink that. All of that! If an office is purely for collaboration versus for getting everything work-related done, what would the space need to look like? How would you redesign it, and what opportunities does that open up for your organization? As part of this, Razzetti talks about the need to clarify which arrangements the company is going to make and where flexibility is allowed. Razzetti urges teams, not individual leaders, to think through and plan out all the details.

Bring Together Ideas, not Bodies. Another mindset shift is related to how we get work done through and with others. For Razzetti, collaboration is about an exchange of ideas, not a meeting of people. If you focus on the flow of ideas, you may realize that being co-located is not necessarily required. Razzetti advises that the first step is often to look at your current workflows. Examine how is work getting done now, then redesign your processes.

How Do We Get There?

​Razzetti’s Culture Design Canvas© is an amazing tool to guide a team or organization in reimagining the workplace. The center is the starting point. First, define your purpose and outline your values. Then, begin to design the remaining elements. Visit Razzetti’s "Fearless Culture" website for more downloads and resources.
 
As always, let me know what ideas this sparks!