Flexible work means more than working from home

Remote work does not equal work / life balance and there are no amount of Zoom calls or virtual coffees that can replace an office’s three C’s - Connection, Collaboration and Culture. 

If COVID has proved one thing while disrupting the traditional workplace - it’s that employees need human contact.  

We need meaningful relationships. 

We need time spent face to face.

While technology provides us with the means to connect, it doesn’t replace human connection.

Sure, working from home comes with the benefits of zero commute, flexible hours and the ability to multitask domestic duties in between emails or on slower work days. 

But, over time, as boundaries blur between where work starts and finishes, emails are answered at all hours and time off is a distant memory, productivity dives and fatigue creeps in. 

The problem here is balance is missing. 

As we move towards ‘COVID normal’, the way we work is forever changed. 

Offices have downsized, shared workspaces are on the rise and employees want to continue working at least some of their role, remotely. 

This is where flexibility can be an asset to businesses and their employees. 

Businesses can significantly reduce their carbon footprint and their overheads by downsizing and adopting a flexible work approach, which may include using shared services and outsourcing administration (Hello, TWSG!!).

The key is finding the sweet spot between time spent online and time spent face-to-face. 

And when it comes to office support and executive assistance, this is my fortè! 

In my field, I know from experience that flexibility doesn’t mean less productivity.  In fact, it opens up administrative work to a talent pool of women who are highly skilled but sidelined by the Monday to Friday, 9-5 work week. 

Flexible work, works. Time spent face-to-face saves time. 

It fosters teamwork, collaboration, problem solving and creativity. It provides tone to emails and body language which helps us decipher workplace relationships and build stronger connections. 

And call me old fashioned, but what can’t be resolved over a glass of wine or a Friday afternoon lunch after a big week?  It’s good for culture and staff morale.  

TWSG believes the best way you can be a highly effective EA or business partner to your executive is if you can walk in their shoes.  Know what they need, know what they would do, know what they would say.  This involves getting to know them, in person, face to face and building a relationship which equally benefits both parties.

If you would like to hear more about how TWSG could support your business objectives with a flexible work solution to take care of your administrative needs please get in touch.