Trying To Get Your Team Back Into The Office? You’re Doing It Wrong

If you’re running a business and have been feeling frustrated with the lack of enthusiasm to return to the office, you’re not alone. Sure, you were flexible in the beginning, but now it’s becoming harder to motivate your employees, productivity is waning and profits are starting to suffer. But why does no one want to come back?

When every headline talks about the benefits of remote working, how can you go against the grain and inspire a shift back to an office-based work environment?

In this article, we’re going to explain why it’s important to return to the office, we’ll help you understand where the resistance you are experiencing is coming from, and we’ll share practical tips to help you guide your team back.

Let’s start with the why.

Why is it important to get your team back into the office?

It’s all about culture. There is no doubt that, in most instances, there is a clear link between remote working and lacking company culture. We don’t need to tell you that hosting team building exercises over Zoom don’t quite hit the mark in the same way that full-day in-person training would.

When you are clear on your company values and you are able to express these to your employees, you give them a “North Star” to guide them during challenging times. The problem is during the pandemic many organisations were forced to change, teams were dispersed and culture was put on the back burner. Now is the time to fix that.

Why? Because having a strong company culture is directly linked to increased profits. We also know that it positively impacts productivity. So if you need to return to the office to improve your company culture, this should be your number one priority.

Where does the resistance come from?

In the wake of the pandemic there has been a worldwide shift in values as people realised that work was not the only thing that matters. The forced shift to remote work gave many people a work/life balance that they had not experienced before, making things like attending appointments and dropping the kids off at school easier than ever before. 

While many people are gagging to get back to in-person meetings, after work drinks and office chit chat, others are used to working in their pyjamas, spending more time with their children, and sleeping in a little longer each day.

The truth is, if people are earning the same amount of money and their output is the same, in their minds, there is no reason to change their current work situation.

One thing is clear, forcing people to return to the office when they don’t want to won’t work. So what can you do instead? Instead of making the return to the office mandatory, you need to inspire your team to return of their own accord.

How can you do that?

1. Let people in on your vision. Explain the plans that you have for your business and make them feel like they are an important part of those plans. When an employee can see the potential in a business, they are more likely to work hard as they know that growth and career progression are possible.
   Keep in mind that it's possible that your company's Vision, Mission and Values have shifted over the past two years. It may be time for a refresh and a program to roll them out to re-inspire your team again.
   

2. Share the company goals. When people see growth and know that profits are being re-invested into the business, they become more engaged. This improves motivation across the board, and it also impacts productivity and wellbeing.
   

3. Provide new incentives. Make it worth their while to travel into the office. Chances are your business has changed over the past two years and so should the KPIs you set for your team. The best way to understand what incentives they want is to ask your employees. Run a Pulse Survey to find out what is important to them to get some hard data.
   Also, ensure your managers are having 1:1 meetings with all employees and asking questions about their motivation and desired incentives, and provide a clear communication pathway to get the information back so you can take action.
   

4. Offer a profit share. Giving your team a piece of the pie aligns employer and employee incentives, increases motivation and loyalty, and fosters greater teamwork. The benefits are far-reaching and ensure your employees are in it for the long run. No matter what size your business is, rewarding your employees for working together for a common goal is a win-win.
   

5. Establish a hybrid workplace. In reality, you’re unlikely to be able to convince people to return to the now redundant 9-5, Monday to Friday, full-time office gig. If you’re not willing to be a little bit flexible on the office arrangement, you risk losing your top talent to competitors who promote flexibility. Offering a reasonable amount of flexibility will go a long way to keeping people satisfied.
   We suggest starting back as a pilot and check-in with each employee after 2 weeks to see how it’s going. You'll also need to address some people on a case-by-case basis. If your team members felt heard, then you'll have a much more motivated workforce.
   

6. Invest in professional development. Leadership training courses and programs let your team know that you back them and their future with the company. Provide access to new skills each year, earmark people for promotions and support them on the journey.

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What to learn more about how we can help you support your teams as you transition back to the office? Get in touch today.