Trust issues
Remote working, social media and mobile computing are just some of the management issues impacting your business today.
Two months ago we relocated to a new office. The move itself wasn't out of the ordinary. The reasons for the move, on the other hand, represented what I see as a sign of the times.
We doubled our office space, replaced every piece of our perfectly adequate furniture, and added sofas (red, obviously), a pool table, dartboard, large screen TV, and gaming consoles.
What happened next was a fascinating social experiment.
You see, when you throw these items into the mix of a normal office environment; people don't know how to deal with them. I mean, seriously, should they be playing darts at 9am? Or are they all supposed to line up to play pool during their lunch hour? There was absolutely no rule book and no frame of reference for anyone to work within. It’s been absolutely amazing to watch.
Other business owners I've known for years thought I was crazy. Surely productivity will nose dive. People will treat the place like a social club, and work will begin to slip. Client relationships will suffer, ultimately leading to a total business collapse. Presumably followed shortly afterward by either a zombie apocalypse or a devastating meteor strike (or both).
So what prompted the move in the first place?