As remote work gains traction, chance encounters are replaced by scheduled video calls, and water cooler conversations are replaced by messaging apps.
While these tools facilitate communication, meaningful connections are not always formed in formal meetings or scheduled brainstorming sessions. Often, they occur during coffee breaks and chance encounters in hallways or communal spaces. And so, while remote work allows individuals to work from the comfort of their homes, working in the office gives us these personal interactions that cannot be replaced by quick Zoom calls or occasional catch-up messaging.
Here are some things that make working in the office just a tad better than solely being in a remote work environment.
1. Maintain Clear Work-Life Separation: Remote work has definitely blurred the lines between work and personal time. It’s tempting to take care of personal errands during work hours, and your deliverables at work become accessible since your laptop is now within reach, whether on your living room couch or atop your bed. Having physical office space allows for a clear distinction between work and personal life, reducing the potential for work-related tasks to intrude on personal time.
2. Breaking Down Silos: Remote work can sometimes lead to silos within teams, where individuals only interact with those in their immediate circle. Meeting people in the office outside your team encourages breaking down these silos and engaging in cross-functional collaborations.
3. Boosting Creativity: Unplanned encounters can lead to creative “Aha!” moments that may not occur during structured discussions. The informality of these chance encounters doesn’t usually happen when you have to book a meeting in somebody’s calendar or muster the courage to send a message in MS Teams. This interaction enables these creative sparks to fly.
4. Supervision and Support: Being in the office allows for closer supervision and guidance from managers, fostering not only a sense of accountability but also support for employees.
5. Reduced Home Distractions: Working from home may provide a sense of control over your time, but it can also lead to distractions from household chores, family members, or personal commitments. Working in an office can typically minimize these distractions and allows you to focus on work tasks.
6. Maintain Clear Work-Life Separation: Remote work has definitely blurred the lines between work and personal time. It can be tempting to take care of personal errands during work hours. Meanwhile, deliverables at work become accessible since your laptop is now within reach, whether on your living room couch or atop your bed. Having physical office space allows for a clear distinction between work and personal life, reducing the potential for work-related tasks to intrude on personal time.
While working remotely has benefits, such as the ability to control our schedules to a greater extent, it also presents us with additional distractions that we may not have encountered in a traditional office setting.
On the other hand, office work typically follows a more predictable, structured routine that enables us to manage our time and tasks more effectively. This consistency can be especially helpful for those struggling to stay focused or motivated when working from home. Ultimately, the choice between remote and office work depends on individual preferences and circumstances, and both options have their unique advantages and challenges.