The world of work has changed dramatically in times of Covid 19. Virtual collaboration has become the norm. Many companies have sent their employees to work from home and were surprised at how well it worked. In the meantime, however, some companies want their colleagues to come back to the office more.
We at mermaid broccoli have a very special perspective on this topic, as we have been working almost 100% decentralized since our foundation. We call this concept the #anywhereoffice. When we were founded, Moritz lived in India, today he spends a lot of time in Mozambique, his base is Berlin and he also travels around a lot. Bernadette lives in Lübeck and Susanne in Cologne. So we don’t meet in the office every day. And yet we work very well together. You could say: “Ok, you’re a small company and you’re all friends”, but that’s not the point. Even when working with our customers, some of whom we have never met in person and some of whom are based in Singapore or Tokyo, we have found time and again that it is possible to create personal closeness, innovation, exchange and collegial cooperation even from a distance. You just have to want it!
Opportunities challenges of virtual collaboration
Of course, the switch to virtual collaboration has not only brought logistical challenges, but also requires a new approach to collaboration and leadership. Suddenly, it is important to organize yourself without the familiar environment of the office and direct contact with colleagues, and apparently some managers today experience the loss of proximity (and possibly control) as a major shortcoming of working from home or the #anywhereoffice. With some employees returning to the office, another challenge is that teams have to work together in a hybrid way. Some are in the office, others are at home and others are on the road with customers, suppliers or elsewhere.
Talk about it
Unfortunately, the world of hybrid-virtual collaboration is more complex than that of traditional office work. In this respect, we have it almost easy ourselves, as we are almost 100% virtual. Even our working student Kira – although she lives in Cologne and is therefore close to Susanne – always extremely successfully works from her home office. The most important thing is that you talk about it in your team and in your organization and set common rules that work well for the respective team. In our view, a 3-day forced obligation to work from home is not very helpful. It would make more sense to discuss with your colleagues why you should be in the office on which days. This why is absolutely crucial, because just because you’re sitting in one place doesn’t mean you’re working productively.
Ideas for a why that we at mermaid broccoli like:
- Maintain a genuine exchange.
- Really move things forward together and then celebrate the pontentially physical and tangible results of the joint work together.
- Intensive 1:1 conversations (e.g. also during a walk in the woods together). Although we are convinced that you can also talk and work intensively with each other on the phone or in teams, physical proximity helps from time to time.
- Drink coffee
- Cook eat together.
Some of the things we mention here seem to have little to do with “real work”. But they concern the exchange between each other.
Things that are not worth going to the office for:
- Video calls, possibly in a shared meeting room (“hybrid meetings”). If it is only about holding a meeting that is also attended by people from outside, then sitting in the same place adds little value.
- Information events where most people just listen and only a few speak.
- Sitting next to each other in closed offices in the same place. This may be of value to the individual if it is too loud or too crowded at home. But in our view, this does not justify being forced to come to the office.
How we at mermaid broccoli support you
At mermaid broccoli, we support companies in successfully mastering transformations – including those towards more asynchronous and virtual collaboration. Our workshops and qualification programs are designed to take participants into the learning zone and promote a growth mindset. This is particularly important in times of great change, as it helps to see challenges as opportunities and to learn continuously.
3 tips for better virtual collaboration
Our experience shows that virtual collaboration can be very effective if it is well organized. Here are some of our approaches:
- Develop a mindset:
A positive and open approach to change is crucial. We offer you and your colleagues support in developing an inner mindset that helps you to keep an overview and remain positive even in uncertain times. - Remote work:
At mermaid broccoli, we have always worked remotely for the most part. Our teams are spread across different locations and we have developed many best practices that we are happy to share. For example, we hold regular virtual meetings to strengthen team spirit and make sure that our meetings are well structured and focused. - Feedback team culture:
An essential component of successful virtual collaboration is open and appreciative feedback. It promotes learning and development within the team. Even if face-to-face meetings are often lacking, a strong team culture can be cultivated through clear communication structures and regular feedback rounds.
If you are interested in how you can improve remote collaboration in your company or have specific challenges, we are here to help you as coaches. Remotely, of course!
