Factors driving productivity in return to office working

This is an excellent summary from Syed Gaous of the factors that truly drive productivity in RTO. I like his ‘Relearn to Operate’ phrase. Alongside the emergence of AI in our daily work, there is a tsunami of change going on – societal, generational, cultural – which are combining into the most massive transformation of work. Huge challenges for HR.

I do think it’s been toughest for middle managers. The level above them tend to be the generation who have the old school mindset of control, and expect the same results from the same budget. It’s likely that middle managers need a smaller span of control to make remote working work.

During any transition, you need more time to relearn, and I have seen little evidence of that being given.

I also agree that trust is the most precious currency in organisations, and the RTO changes have put it under enormous pressure. The managers who had built trust before Covid are the ones who maintained performance during and after Covid.

Thank you Syed Gaous for your thoughtful insights on this and many other topics. If you’re not already on the list to receive his newsletter, I recommend it.