Since O3 World's inception in 2005, we have always believed in having a full-time, in-house team. We started that way and continue this today. Our consultants were also asked to work on site.
We’re a digital product agency, so as a services-based company we feel strongly that community, collaboration, communication and culture are the most critical elements of us delivering the best work.
The idea of remote work, or a distributed workforce, is something my business partner and I were never a fan of. And I say that as the only one at O3 that has experienced it while at the company. For 10 years, I split my time between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. -- where my wife lives and works. I’ve seen how our company operates, and interacts, when someone is remote. I’ve experienced the limitations in leading the company and making an impact on team members while I’m remote.
Now that COVID-19 has disrupted our world, things are naturally going to have to change in response to it -- and not just in the short term. When much of the office working world has been forced to work remotely for several months, with the flexibility it affords you, it’s not possible to go back to the way things were.
But that doesn’t mean I’ll change my mind about dedicated remote or distributed workforce. Does that work for some companies? 100%. But let me explain why I don’t want it to work for us.
Community
We believe in the neighborhood we work in and want to be a part of it. When we first started, we moved to Northern Liberties in Philadelphia before it had been gentrified. And when we moved to Fishtown, it had not been completely gentrified. We grew with the neighborhoods, and played a role in helping them grow while we were there. Many of our employees now live in Fishtown and we all frequent many of the bars, restaurants, gyms, salons and stores in the area. With 50 employees, I’ve seen the impact we’ve had on the economy within the neighborhood and in Philadelphia -- that’s important to us.
Culture
We like spending time with each other. People are social creatures, and we enjoy being around others, particularly when you’re dealing with the ups and downs of life and business. Being able to go for a walk with someone that is struggling and wants to talk, or taking the team out for an impromptu happy hour can only happen when you’re in an office.
Collaboration
We believe that brainstorming and collaborating are way more effective in person than using a combination of tools such as Zoom and Miro. You feed off of other’s ideas and energies and you feed off the office environment and the space you’re in.
Communication
Slack, email, Zoom. None of them replace in-person interactions. Whether it’s to provide leadership and mentorship, or whether it’s to respond as a team to an issue that arises. Doing this when people are in different places, and particularly if they’re in different time zones, doesn’t compare.
It’s about the people
A service business is about the people. I have always enjoyed hiring people and seeing their careers development, their personal lives and families grow while at O3. Working remotely can turn people into numbers if you don’t already have an excellent remote culture in place. How much have you accomplished? How much time have you billed? How many deals have you sold?
We’re not hired just to produce something. People are hired to share their diverse perspectives, solve unique problems and learn from others both professionally and personally along the way.
I recognize the values of a distributed company. Working in a distributed fashion is a much more affordable way to run a business. It saves on office space and all of the expenses that come along with that. It opens you up to talent well outside of your area, which not only gets you expanded access to talent, but potentially at a lower rate.
For all of the damage and distress COVID-19 has created, it forced us into thinking differently. How we work, where we work and in many cases, what kind of work are we now doing. It let us wipe the slate clean and look at work with a fresh set of eyes.
No longer does it have to be about a traditional setting. And in many ways, that’s really exciting. It’s time to end the ‘in-house’ vs ‘remote’ argument. Instead, companies should focus on a happy medium, which is our plan.
This is a guest article from a member of the Bureau of Digital community. We're always looking for good tips and lessons, if you're interested in contributing please email smith@bureauofdigital.com.