EMPATHY: The pandemic was a challenging time for everyone in the world. There was not one person not affected by the difficulties that were presented. We all experienced a loss in one way or another, some lost family and friends, some lost jobs, some lost or postponed events but mostly we all lost connection. The connection and community that we had was taken and we were left feeling very alone which was quite frightening. Like other tragedies in history similar to a war the effects don’t go away once the rubble has been cleared. It takes a long time for a Nation to heal from such drastic events and many scars, habits and ways of thinking remain. What that means for the working world is that each person’s nervous system is more charged than before and can be triggered more than it used to be. An example might be that commuting to a downtown office on a train or in traffic surrounded by many people now feels very scary. For years we had to social distance, wear masks and be hypervigilant about germs and being in close proximity to others, so our brain is saying this feels unsafe. Another example might be noise. Before the pandemic we were used to loud, bustling offices which our brains equated to busyness and volume of work. This would make us feel safe in our job security and that the economy is in a positive light. However, when working at home we adapted to a quiet atmosphere that allowed for a lot of focus time and productivity. When we enter back into a space with a multitude of sounds it is over stimulating and we struggle to maintain focus. This is where we need to exercise empathy and understanding that people need to have the flexibility to work differently. Our brains have been re-wiring for the last 3 years and we can’t go back to what was and expect those same results. We need to treat offices as a place to gather, collaborate, share ideas and problem solve. We need to allow that in person social structure back into the fold and balance it with virtual calls when required but not be used as a default. We need to have dedicated focus and quiet spaces to allow for time away from the group to get things done. Our days are a constant battle of fulfilling our own needs. When we are challenged in doing this, we expend so much energy trying to re-route and get back on track and end up very unproductive. It is like our brains are “buffering” more time than they are streaming. Creating a workspace that allows for different modes of work will allow people to work at the most optimum levels without the frustration of feeling off track all the time creating a natural work/life needs balance. When our needs are met we have a good day, we feel accomplished, even if something didn’t go to plan as long as our needs were met, we see the joy in the adventure. If our needs weren’t met and we ended up having to get back on course over and over, we deem this a bad day. Which ends up leading to the frustration of being at work, instead of the enjoyment of a satisfying day. ENGAGEMENT: When a team is not engaged in the work culture, values or over arcing goals it throws everything out of alignment. It is like having all four wheels of a car tiling in opposite directions, it makes for a really bumpy and uncomfortable ride. When people are disengaged, they are working in the same office but just physically taking up the same space. This makes all tasks feel like it is a check box system, and each person is going through the motions in a robotic way. Imagine going to see your favourite band and they are not engaging with the audience; you would feel like you are looking into a window of them recording and album instead of attending a performance. Engagement comes from intentional actions. When meetings are scheduled what is the intention? What will be discussed and solved in that meeting? What can you share that will attract the attention of the team? If a meeting is to talk about budgets and targets start with the positive notes, the company, and personal “wins”. Ensure that not just one person is talking, the more the team is involved with conversations the more engagement occurs. One of the things that really helps bring people together is the atmosphere and space. A well- designed space with different colours and elements creates a mood within the office areas. Having areas for more casual meetings without the barriers of a table and more comfortable seating makes for a calm environment that lends itself to more open dialogue and sharing of ideas. When things feel very institutional and dry people tend to check out mentally and are more on auto pilot. This means more interactions become people talking “at” others as opposed to “with” each other in deep engagement which results in creative brilliance. Having engaging spaces and procedures within the office benefits everyone. EMPOWERMENT: Empowering your team is one of the best ways to guarantee success. When people are empowered, they feel freedom. Freedom of choice in how they can achieve something and freedom to push the envelope to be creative and supported in that failure is an option as it will lead to learning. Every time we “fail” at something we learn what didn’t work. In a world where people are constantly tilting their head up and wondering, “how?” People who are empowered are driven to “do”. When we sit too long in the “how” mentality we go through all of the scenarios and play them out in our mind and then waver on whether or not that is the right decision which results in analysis paralysis. Our fears kick in and we end up stuck, not moving the needle at all. When you empower your team there is trust, you are saying I trust you are aligned with the vision of the company, and I encourage you to look at ideas that might seem unconventional but the only way to know what isn’t going to work is to try. This doesn’t mean people are encouraged to be reckless, it means that you let go of control. Set expectations and parameters but then give the freedom over. We are all just one person and we can’t do it all, many hands make light work and many minds come up with a variety of ideas. Every day in the office is a team building opportunity, if you had to complete a puzzle like an escape room as one person you would likely fail, you need different perspectives and ways of thinking to figure out the puzzles of business. This is where the two elements discussed above come together to really push your team’s success. Creating well-designed spaces that have flexible zones and functions allows for a new way of work that is vibrant, exciting, productive and a place people want to be. We have learned through the pandemic we don’t want to be alone all the time. Loneliness is detrimental to the human spirit. We need community and connection to thrive so let’s create these places together to allow for a new era of people loving the place they work because it feels good.