Remote work became the new normal for many of us during the pandemic. For some—like our team—it’s how most of our work is done since we’re spread across different parts of the world. However, it seems we’ve become a bit too reliant on it, forgetting the power of meeting in person and working side by side, especially when it comes to achieving the best results. Some even refer to this as the curse of remote work.
Recently, I’ve encountered several people discussing how disastrous 100% remote work can be for organizations—particularly in terms of creativity, innovation, and the ability to develop and renew themselves. While many tasks can be effectively handled from a home office—often more efficiently than in the office—there are certain types of work, such as brainstorming, development, and problem-solving, that are best done when we’re physically together.
Creativity and innovation thrive on trust. Trust is built when we meet in person and connect on a level that video calls simply can’t replicate. We feel safe being creative with others when trust exists. Imagine being in a virtual meeting and suddenly having an intuition or a vague new idea that could lead to something great. By the time you’ve raised your virtual hand and get the chance to share, you might hesitate, feeling that it’s too vague or unfinished in a virtual setting.
Improving operations and processes is a crucial part of the finance team’s work. The best ideas often emerge in casual conversations—like a chat by the coffee machine or an impromptu discussion. Process improvement is most effective in an environment where ideas can be tossed around freely, with one team member building on another’s thoughts. A CEO of a marketing service company recently told me she can’t allow her teams to work exclusively remotely. “Our product is creative thinking and problem-solving for our customers. If I allowed my teams to work only remotely, I would essentially be reducing the quality of our work,” she said. I believe the same applies to any creative work—which includes all forms of improvement and development.
"Creativity and innovation
thrive on trust."
At our summer meeting, we held workshops to enhance our ways of working on both sides of the Atlantic. We tackled big ideas that needed development and smaller ones that could be implemented right away. The overall feeling was one of accomplishment—we achieved a lot that benefited our customers and ourselves. We even made a promise to keep our cameras on during every Teams meeting. It was such a joy to see everyone again in our first meeting after the holidays!
ChatGPT has helped me polish the language of this post.
