Issue #11: Offices of the future

For the companies choosing to adopt a Hybrid work environment (which is most of them these days), there's a fascinating and burning question facing them: what do we do with our office space?

Sure, there's the question of how much of it to keep or downsize. But the more interesting question, and where great opportunity lies, is in how the space they have is used.

The LinkedIn Talent Blog published a piece diving into how various companies are rethinking their office spaces to adapt to the changing habits of their work force. Here are a few cool examples:

Google's Team Pods
Sometimes a powerful solution doesn't need to be complicated. By creating spaces with chairs, desks, storage units and whiteboards that can all be wheeled around, Google enables teams to change their space to fit whoever may be in the office that day.

(Image from Google Blog)

Microsoft's Conference Rooms
But tech doesn't hurt! Microsoft has created high-tech conference rooms specifically designed for hybrid teams. Cameras have been moved to eye level, video feeds show participants in a more natural "around the table" layout, and intelligent speakers & microphones make it easier for remote workers to hear conversation.

(Image from Microsoft WorkLab)

Dropbox's Studios
While the above solutions try to answer 'how do we have effective meetings with a mix of remote & onsite employees,' Dropbox turned the question on its head and said: home is great for individual work, but when employees are together in the office, how can we make that experience as great as possible?

Dropbox CEO and co-founder Drew Houston says, "We focused on having really great curated in-person experiences, some of which we coordinate at the company level and then some of which you can go into our studios, which have been refitted to support more collaboration."

Their answer was Dropbox Studios, new spaces they're rolling out in a number of their offices across the world, which include cafes, expansive meeting rooms, and various "soft spaces" where teams can meet, connect and collaborate.

(Image from Dropbox Blog)

Check out the full article here: The Offices of the Future Have Arrived — and Here’s What They Look Like

In the News & Around the Web

How Working From Home Could Change Where Innovation Happens. This is an interesting piece from the WSJ about how remote could scatter white collar workers further afield from major cities. The argument:

People like working remotely, so if they can they will
There will be a trend of more and more companies posting remote-first positions, so that they can capture workers everywhere
This will ultimately bring about a tipping point where workers are more comfortable moving away from major metro areas, because they know they'll have multiple options for remote work wherever they go

If you hit the paywall, get the highlights from the author's twitter thread.

The Urban Land Institute and PwC released a report on Real Estate Trends in 2022, highlighting some of the changes hybrid & remote work could have on cities: Permanent remote work will have lasting impact on U.S. cities

In other news, Walmart is calling corporate employees back to the office starting November 8th, though there is a carve-out for its 10,000 tech employees to work remotely indefinitely. Lucky tech workers.

Tips & Recommendations

Matt Redler, CEO of Panther HR solutions, shared how his all-remote team stays happy & productive.  Here are a few of my favorites:

"Don't start work right away in the morning. Create a routine. Take an hour before work to run, cook, journal, or do something you enjoy. When you’re done with work for the day, follow another routine. This helps you mentally check in and out of work to stay focused."

"Change your sensory atmosphere.  Light a candle during deep work or get dressed up and head to a coffee shop for a Zoom call. Change the style of music you listen to depending on what you’re doing.Give yourself sensory triggers for different types of work."

"Get outside at least once a day for 30 minutes (and definitely more if you can). It sounds obvious, but it’s not easy for everyone. Getting outside for a walk, a run, or a coffee at the park can make a huge difference in your day and your mood."

"Be realistic about your social life.  Remote can get lonely: If you feel isolated, get intentional about scheduling time to meet with friends. In general, chat with more people. Ex: If you work from coffee shops, get to know the baristas. Small interactions -> Big impact"

"Experiment as much as you can. There’s a lot of advice –– like this –– on the internet about working remotely. But it translates differently for everyone. For example, try out: