Fenyxº business.
May 10th, 2024
Reading time: 4 min
Since the start of the corona pandemic, working from home has proven to be a viable option for many companies and employees. But while some are looking forward to returning to the office, others are wondering whether a return to the office is even necessary.
The advantage of working from home is obvious: No hours of commuting, more flexibility and a better work-life balance. However, there are also disadvantages, such as the lack of personal interaction and the difficulty of separating work and private life.
Working alone in an office, the unfortunate reality for most workers who return, photo by cottebro studio
But why return to the office? Face-to-face interaction is an important factor. Direct, personal exchange with colleagues promotes collaboration and enables faster decisions to be made. Because although online meetings are considered to be extremely effective, as there are fewer interlocutors, travel times are minimized and you can jump from meeting to meeting, (big) decisions are better negotiated in person, because a lot of communication takes place through non-verbal signals such as body language, facial expressions and tone of voice. These signals can easily be overlooked or misinterpreted during an online meeting, which can lead to misunderstandings.
In addition, the personal encounter enables team members to build trust and a good relationship, which is of great importance for decision-making. It's easier to make a personal connection when you meet face to face and can read each other's body language and tone of voice.
In personal meetings, distractions such as notifications on the computer or mobile phone can also be easily avoided. This allows everyone to fully concentrate on the discussion, which can lead to better decisions.
And the latter, working together on important decisions in personal meetings enables a more dynamic brainstorming phase and problem solving. The team can work together to share ideas and develop creative solutions in real time.
Another important point why employers should campaign for a return to the office is the work culture. In recent decades, companies have developed a work culture based on collaborative work, collaboration and creativity. Returning to the office can help maintain and develop this culture. It is not to be underestimated how much a joint lunch, a shared coffee in the office kitchen or a work trip can contribute to team dynamism and promote easier collaboration.
Conclusion: Although working from home offers many benefits, companies and employees should consider returning to the office. A balanced mix of home office and office work can combine the best of both worlds and promote both social interaction and productivity.
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