Going To The Office
I traveled to London to visit my daughter. While there, i visited a friend at the London headquarters of Goldman Sachs. He has a really big job heading a division that used to be three.
I arrived at the beautiful new building. Security is high but not intimidating. I was met by his assistant who guided me through the trading floor to his office. Trading floors in concept have not changed except there are more people and more screens. There is one thing that is different and that is the sound or lack of it. This very large, amazing trading floor was oddly quiet.
We had a warm and interesting catch up. He writes a blog for the firm. It is well worth the read — always knowledgeable and provocative. The other interesting aspect is that it has a bit of human interest and thus, a very warm quality. We talked about the joys of writing mixed with the pressure of a weekly publication. We agreed that writing has made us more observant of the world and human behavior.
We concluded our visit as he had to move to his next meeting. His assistant escorted me through the floor to the elevator. I tried to get her to sign-up to my blog ---- always selling!!
As I left the building a distinct feeling came over me. A bit of nostalgia but something else. It was the comfort of connecting with the familiar. I have come in and out of buildings like this more times than I can count over my career in financial service.
I began to think about the positive nature of going to a designated place to work versus working remotely. I found going to work was a way of compartmentalizing one of the many things we do with our lives. A place to work helps to focus and give fully to that which we are engaged. Living and working in the same place blurs the lines of living and working. When at home, it is important to experience what is valuable and enjoyable about being at home. Whether family or single, home offers a chance to find solace and rest from the other activities of life. Home represents a different and hopefully more peaceful opportunity to enjoy and reflect.
I liked the process of going to work. There was a preparation that is distinct from the other activities you prepare for. Whether it’s a suit or casual business or a uniform the process of getting ready is different from a social activity. This is followed by the trip to work. There are so many tools now that allow you to continue your preparation for your work day. Listening to messages or listening to work related publications is another way of preparing.
Finally, there is the arrival at the office. This is where I work and it is separate and distinct from the other places I inhabit. Work offers the stage on which we can interact with our colleagues. We communicate in person and experience the nuance and depth of interpersonal language. When I am at home my boss might call me once a day but when I am at our place of work, I have multiple opportunities to receive feedback. A place of work creates the stage that allows spontaneity and creativity. The aspect of working and living in the same place makes it very difficult to get as much out of the work experience or the home experience.
When one is at work in the presence of colleagues one can create and collaborate with them. You learn how to work with people. how to resolve conflict. You can congratulate and experience success and failure together. Whether it's passing in the hallway or in the same room creativity explodes with the energy created by in-person communication. The digital tools that we have in front of us helps our solution driven ideas, but they can isolate us. Remember the stereo type of the early computer programmer – locked in a room - up all night writing code. There is a loneliness that comes about in developing code or computer programming, and perhaps that has leaked into today’s digital products and remote work.
I had a terrific feeling, maybe even a longing of wanting in person work again. I realized the idea of working from home can stunt creativity in spite of Zoom. There is nothing quite the same as human interaction to create positive results. So, as I left the office, I thought how much I had accomplished in such a short time and how many subjects we had addressed. In person collaboration opens up rich possibilities that are otherwise limited when working remotely. When we work together regardless of what kind of tools we are using, there is nothing quite like the creativity we can develop with another human. Think of one industry or enterprise that functions better when colleagues work alone. Cannot imagine a sports team working remotely. We make friends, we collaborate we produce a better imagined product when we work together.
Think of the break your mind and body will get when you arrive home for a real disconnect from work. I had a great opportunity to re-experience working in an office the other day. I thank my friend for treating me. It would not have happened remotely.
Willing and able to work in an office.
From London:
Fredric Steck