Increasing Inefficiencies

Despite these restricted, locked-down times, in many ways we have been better connected and more efficient than ever.  Companies have reduced headcount, improved productivity, increased outputs and collaborated - all from home. 

For example, The London Stock Exchange has established programmes to enhance global connections. Every two weeks, two of their staff from different countries have a 15 minute conversation to enhance understanding of each other’s work.  Before the pandemic, corporate initiatives like this were few and far between.  

In the coming month, most of us will re-embrace the commute and return to our office.  Despite a year of chasing efficiencies and enhancing productivity, we are about to welcome back a £5.3 billion productivity inefficiency.  Remember the random connections and spontaneity?  Remember the unstructured, gossipy meetings, the double-booked meeting rooms and “is there an agenda?” 

The office is in some senses staggeringly inefficient.  

The siren call of productivity usually moves us forward.  We resist inefficiency.  We won’t travel from London to Edinburgh by horse.  We won’t strap our news to a pigeon.    

Yet, here is a longing to return to inefficiency, to a potentially misplaced romance of the workplace.  While the WFH novelty has faded and office nostalgia may be exaggerated (remember that Dettol ad?), it is time to go back.  

Back to the office as a sociocultural comfort, a sense of belonging that cannot be attained home alone.  

Spontaneity, conviviality and creativity are the point and the purpose of the new office.  It’s a social anchor says The Harvard Business Review.  It facilitates connections, and fosters unscripted, innovative collaborations. 

And as the economy demands a recovery from the £271 billion cost of Covid, I suspect our best work is yet to come - at the office.