Reconfiguring the Collaborative Workspace - Futurum Tech Podcast Interview Series

On this special edition of the Futurum Tech Podcast - Interview Series, host Daniel Newman welcomed Richard Davies, Vice President at DXC Technology and Managing Director of Leading Edge Forum and Caitlin McDonald, Digital Anthropologist at Leading Edge Forum. Richard and Caitlin discussed findings from a recent report from LEF and the accelerated digital transformation that’s happening due to COVID-19.

Reconfiguring the Collaborative Workspace

Even before the pandemic we were seeing a massive shift in the way that people are working. Caitlin and Richard shared insights from The Leading Edge Forum’s latest research “Reconfiguring the Collaborative Workspace,” a study that was done over the last few years with insights from a variety of companies in a variety of industries.

It’s clear that there is an increasing ubiquity and reliability of collaborative technologies like Slack, Zoom, and shared cloud etc. All of these things were coming together to enable businesses of any size and in any field to think about how they could change the way that people work whether that’s flexible hours or a distributed team across the globe. The office has become less of a hub.

Now, 30 percent of the earth’s population is under some sort of shelter-in-place order so this shift in how we work is massively accelerated. We are looking at a new collaborative workspace.

The Technology Matters

Beyond the way that people were working, where they worked, the kinds of work they were doing one key finding from the report is all about how important the right equipment is. If there’s a barrier to communication because of the technology, you as a person perceive it as a barrier to your interpersonal communication which can be difficult to overcome in this new work environment.

Caitlin shared that employees don’t complain about wanting the new hot technology. They complain about coworkers not being able to hear them or not being able to understand them. You can’t expect effective collaboration if the tools that are in place hinder it. Companies need to invest in technology solutions that facilitate collaboration.

Rethinking How We Interact

Working from home also requires us to rethink our interactions with coworkers and clients. We are missing spontaneous interactions and team building moments. Richard shared that leaders especially have to think a little more about how to keep people engaged and connected. How do you build the community? How do you deliver what you’re trying to say? You have to consider what you’re trying to create and the desired outcome. If it’s team building, perhaps a quick informal check in call would work. If it’s something more important, then an interactive presentation might do the trick, But there’s more to think about than just the information that’s being delivered.

The Changing Physical Environment

We talk a lot about the virtual environment, but realistically when you're working in a virtual environment you also are still sitting somewhere physically. In the current situation, it’s not just that people are working from home, you have to consider that their kids are there or roommates are there. Multiple people in one household trying to work and collaborate with their own companies and schools. Companies need to consider this when thinking about the virtual environment too.

As individuals, we need to get in the right mental headspace. We need to create the right working zone in our minds to get things done. There is no “one size fits all” response that will work. We each have to figure out what works.

Biggest Surprises and Takeaways

There were many surprises and big takeaways from the study but a few stood out. Caitlin shared that she was surprised how adaptable people are to different situations, but that there are still barriers to success if you don’t handle collaborative workspace in the right way. Right now many companies are thinking about how to get the workforce on board to deal with new ways of work and to adjust to this environment, but yet have a balance in their lives? Richard proposed that companies and leaders need to create a shared sense of purpose. Get employees invested by helping them understand the value proposition and the role they play.

At the same time, communication is hugely important. Slow everything down and make slear points so people have the opportunity to absorb, understand, and then respond.

Caitlin’s final takeaway is mostly aimed at leaders. As you're thinking about your teams and a virtual only way of interacting, it is important to create those micro-moments of trust that normally you depend on happening by accident physically in the office. This cannot be overlooked or forgotten if you want your team to be successful.

If you’d like to learn more about the study or other pieces of research that the Leading Edge Forum is working on, visit their website. Also be sure to listen to the full episode below and hit subscribe while you’re at it so you never miss an insightful episode of The Futurum Tech Podcast.