One Job, Many Spaces: Navigating a Monumental Societal Shift
by Dennis Vergne
Five Principles That Make Online Work Thrive – But Do You Agree?
My then seven-year-old son, when asked about his parents’ professions, proudly declared,
‘My mother works in a hospital, and my dad’s at the British Interplanetary Society.’
This innocent mix-up led his primary school to invite me to talk about space exploration. Imagine their surprise when I confessed: I’m actually a consultant and trainer. Our firm merely occupied a space within the British Interplanetary Society’s building.
This humorous misinterpretation sparked a thought: historically, our workspaces were synonymous with our jobs. But that’s no longer the case. In just a week, I found myself working from twelve different spaces*, embracing the fluidity of remote and hybrid models.
This transformation is colossal, a shift from centuries of associating work with a specific location.
Our work now transcends physical boundaries, altering how we interact and relate in professional environments. For instance, the over-the-shoulder supervision is fading, replaced by an outcome focus and autonomous working styles.
Yet, this evolution isn’t without its challenges.
I’ve observed organisations struggling to adapt, their stagnation affecting productivity and workplace satisfaction. Employees crave genuine connections. People leave jobs because they lose connection. And this is not something that back-to-back virtual meetings cannot provide.
Since 2007, long before the pandemic, I’ve been exploring how remote teams can thrive**, focusing not on the technology but on fostering strong, effective relationships despite physical distance.
This challenge persists post-COVID, as many continue to work remotely at least part-time.
Which brings us to a crucial question:
How can we maintain human connections and the joy of teamwork in an online work world?
In March 2021, twenty-one professionals from diverse sectors and regions, all experts in online engagement, came together to address this. We crafted the Online Collaboration Manifesto, a set of principles we believe are vital for thriving in digital workspaces:
We aspire to include diverse people in online interactions that build resilient and trusting working relationships, unlock the group’s potential, and get work done, joyfully.
We value:
People and relationships over technology and tools
Transparently-planned, participative processes over centralised control
Blended forms of engagement (sync, async, video, writing, etc.) over single-mode
Iteration over one-and-done approaches
Fun over formality
I believe that this manifesto is more pertinent than ever.
I want to invite you to take a moment to review it, discuss its relevance with your team, and consider endorsing it. Perfection isn’t the goal; progress towards these ideals is what counts.
Do you agree with these principles? Can these serve as a basis to change the work?
Dennis
