Remote Work's Reality: Loss of Community, Culture, and Growth
Remote work isn’t functioning optimally, especially for the earliest-stage companies. If you are operating remotely, you are likely growing much slower than competitors who work in an office setting.
I’m increasingly hearing from employees and founders who wish more than anything that they could be back in an office surrounded by other humans, creative ideas, and an actual company culture.
For decades, the workplace served as one of the last remaining communities. This was shattered over the past three years, leaving people detached, burnt out, and aimless.
According to "The Belonging Barometer," a study on detachment, a majority of Americans report a sense of non-belonging in the workplace (64%), the nation (68%), and their local community (74%)."
Public policy scholar and veteran Theodore R. Johnson highlights that even those people, "who have long been offered as the fullest approximation of Americanism—feel that even they don’t belong." This is not a positive development.
Companies can and should fill this void for many Americans. This isn’t to suggest that companies should completely bail on the concept of remote work, but the reality is that, despite the improved tooling, humans still crave the company of other humans.
If you’re starting a company, you have a significant competitive advantage by being in the same room with your co-founders. More investors are hesitant to invest in remote companies due to the creation of elongated feedback loops.
Make it a priority; there are a number of benefits:
Direct Communication: Face-to-face interactions can enhance clarity, reduce misunderstandings, and foster more immediate and dynamic communication compared to virtual means.
Team Cohesion: Physical presence can strengthen team bonds, as shared experiences and casual interactions build relationships and a sense of camaraderie.
Structured Routine: Working from an office provides a consistent structure to the workday, which can help in maintaining work-life balance and establishing a clear separation between professional and personal life.
Collaboration and Creativity: Spontaneous conversations and brainstorming sessions are more easily facilitated in person, which can lead to innovation and creative problem-solving.
Company Culture: Physical presence in a workplace helps employees to immerse themselves in the company culture, understand its values, and contribute to a shared identity.
Sense of Belonging: Being part of a physical workspace can enhance the feeling of belonging to an organization and being part of a collective mission.
