Sarcasm aside, some of us are tired of managing all of our collaboration from our living room, or wherever in our homes has the best Zoom background.
The answer isn’t one or the other. Depending on your industry, work setting, and role, you can make a compelling case for either remote, onsite, or hybrid collaboration. So, make your case. Even if your employer has communicated a policy, go ahead and argue for the circumstances that best support your contribution to the team.
Or just do what’s best. Why wait for permission? By the time you’ve reached your mid-career or later, your employer needs you more than you need them. So, assert yourself. If it isn’t well received, perhaps your workplace is funding your job hunt. Maybe your talent fits better elsewhere.
It’s not binary, even if the boss has dichotomized your options. It’s nuanced. A tech support colleague might be equally valuable from any location. A creative director might be more convincing to the engineering department if debating in the same geography. Every teammate has a unique argument.
It’s not about maximizing convenience or minimizing virus prevention. It’s about optimizing teamwork. Make the case.
