People need people. Even in software.

A few weeks ago, we said goodbye and good luck to one of our VPs. Mark is a great leader and was a fantastic contributor to Logi Analytics during his time with us. Saying goodbye with a virtual happy hour over Zoom (full disclosure, I am both a customer of and investor in Zoom) just didn’t seem appropriate. So, we decided to get the leadership team together as an in-person group for the first time in about five months. I did not anticipate the emotional impact seeing everyone in person would have on me. While we avoided handshakes and hugs (which was hard!), and kept socially distanced on my front lawn, it became crystal clear to me over the next couple of hours that the idea that the office is dead and everyone will work remotely forever, is pretty much complete bunk. People need people. Even in software.

 Let me back up a moment to put this statement in perspective. Long before COVID-19 arrived on the scene, I have been a huge proponent of building a remote workforce competency, especially in the tech space. The hunt for talent is never-ending, and when you limit yourself by geography, you really limit the level of talent, diversity, experience and perspectives you can bring to a team. Of course, others disagreed. And I know this has been a discussion, sometimes heated, among senior management in organizations of all kinds for years.

 One of my mentors, the late Jeffry Timmons, once said to me, “A remote workforce eliminates your ability to be lazy as a manager.” I wasn’t used to being called lazy. But I understood the point he was making. To make remote work a realistic possibility, as a leader, you have to really work at it. Your operating playbooks and training need to be documented. Your weekly 1x1’s take on new importance. You have to invest the time in checking in and over-communicating. You cannot manage by simply ‘walking’ the office. It’s not for everyone. That said, and while I never argued for going 100% remote and eliminating the office, my perspective has evolved on the importance of going in to a physical location. And that coming together in an office, a gathering place, or whatever you call your work environment, is critical to the long-term success of an organization.

 While the latest video services let you connect, the technology does not fully replace what it’s like being in the physical presence of your teammates. Body language says a lot. Looking people in the eye means a lot. Shaking a hand. Grabbing a coffee. Sitting together at lunch are all just a few small examples of moments that build relationships and allow for an exchange of ideas and interactions in a way that cannot be replicated in a remote setting with today’s technologies. It’s about nuance. And 3-minute hallway meetings that cannot be replicated by a scheduled video call.

 The workplace also provides a sense of identity for all concerned. This is us. Who we are. This is our energy.  Our pace.  Our attitude. There is a dynamic when we come together that can’t be felt through screens and microphones and headsets. It’s the personality of the company.  And while a video call makes it easy for people to meet, I had not fully realized the current limitations until saying good bye to Mark brought a little emotional depth back into the equation.  Don’t get me wrong.  We’ve accomplished a lot during this time, and I’m forever grateful for the innovations video technologies have brought to the world.  They allowed me to say goodbye to some family that passed away, keep in touch with my friends and extended family, and educate my children. And of course, it would have been nearly impossible to navigate a global company through this pandemic without these services.  However, to me, none of these benefits add up to permanently eliminating the office as a valuable community gathering place for a company.

 Let’s face it. For many colleagues and employees, having a place to go to work is a big part of their social life. It gives them something to talk about and share with family and friends. It’s also a place people make friends. Develop and hone interpersonal skills. Go out for lunch. Dinner. Drinks. Whatever. I don’t think most 22-year-olds graduating college really want to get up and go to work at the kitchen table. Yes, they want the option, but not as a rule. I bet even a large percentage of the ones who were the most vocal about being able to work remotely in the past, have been influenced by circumstances in recent months. Careful what you wish for, as they say.

 I also think the sanctity of home has been challenged. To me, home is for family and friends. It’s a respite.  A place to relax.  To love.  To have fun.  It’s personal.  I will invite you in if I feel like it. COVID-19 took that choice away.  Everyone has to create some space for calls.  As parents, my wife and I had no choice but to create home-schools in our house!  Swimming practice turned into dry-land video calls.  At any given hour walking around my home, you can see a math teacher, soccer coach, personal trainer, and solutions engineer on one computer screen or another.  We’ve rolled with it.  And it’s produced some adorable moments, like my 8-year old waking up and giving me a hug and kiss in the middle of addressing the company.  However, I’m not sure I’d call this constant always-on portal into my home life healthy, nor something I’d like to embrace forever.

 So, what’s The Point?  It’s this.

 I remain a proponent of building a remote workforce competency.  However, there needs to be something that provides a little gravitational pull to keep everything, and everyone, together.  The office isn’t going to provide purpose.  But it’s going to provide the space where you can assess the effect of your decisions in real time.  A place you can meet customers.  A place you can feel the pulse of the organization.  Tap into the energy.  Get a sense of morale just walking the halls.  Offer a quick congrats to someone. The office simply provides just that, a sense of place.  A foundation for community.  A mooring for everyone to tie up to.  Remote working will have a significant place in the future.  But the office isn’t going anywhere any time soon.  People still need people.  Even in software.