The months of March and April 2020 have been a new experiment for India’s corporates. An experiment with working from home (WFH); not common at all in India, till now.
I observed five phases to this experiment…
Two set of characters in this play. One the Manager (M) and other, the Team (T)
Phase 1:
Circular of working from home arrives. IT sets up access, instructs software to be used for video calls and necessary guidelines. Both M & T in their respective homes book the best spot for work- key criteria being network availability, quiet, cannot be seen by spouse, access to TV if possible.
M is anxious. “will T really work from home or will they do TP? (time pass). Meanwhile T is all excited, jumping with joy at the dream come true of WFH. No need to travel, to get shouted at by boss. Can eat home made hot food, work in comfy clothes. Wow!
Now that they are all settled in their spots at their respective homes, video meeting is on and M tells T, Dig the road, T tries hard to keep a straight face and asks why? M tells, so that you can fill it up later. Actually M is in the meantime planning how to efficiently arrange work in the new method of work. He needs time. But he cannot allow T to enjoy a couple of days while he figures it all out. So this is a new refreshing task that has timelines, reviews and daily report.
T starts work, he is getting paid so any road he will dig.
Phase II:
Constructive work is happening; goals are set and action is on full swing. Meetings are on as usual, but on webex, zoom and other platforms. T is working very hard, during travel hours, during lunch time, during post office hours. Lunch time is 15 mins. No tea break, no water cooler talks, no catching up with colleagues at office. Its just work and work. For M too. I think working hours as well as productivity has soared at this point. M is pleased. So is M’s boss. There are chances of getting that incentive & increment, hopefully. For those important meetings, M & T dress up in jacket, tie, track pants and home slippers. The women at home steal a curious glance at the strange attire amid their busy household chores.
Phase III:
M trusts the concept of WFH and that he can trust his T with WFH. It is working for him and his team. They have achieved their goals and timelines, excluding the road part that was discarded half way through. T in the meantime realises WFH is not as much fun as he thought it would be. But it was a good experiment and a new approach to work, he is also saving on other costs like time, travel, food and partying. But there is a void. Like being caged. The positive of phase III is that a beautiful rhythm of work sets in, unnecessary reviews and hourly doses of looking at each other through the laptops drops to optimum level. A calmness prevails. As the saying goes, a lull before the storm.
I forgot to mention the obvious. Across all the phases, since its covid 19 times and no maids, post WFH one must contribute to household chores. Also, there is a proximity with family members who after a point have nothing to speak to each other. So they start picking at each other, for fun maybe.
Phase IV:
M is jubilant. Across the screens he smiles and tells his team – good work. Well done. He knows its great work put in by the team but he chooses to underplay it.
T ‘s eyes light up. Happy at the appreciation. He wonders is this the first time M has verbalised his appreciation? WFH is getting us to be more humane towards the other?
Phase V:
Frustrated that the lock down is extended, both M & T are. They are craving for break time. Break time from family (read spouse). Break time from home as office. Break time from seeing family all day and all night. Too much this is right? Craving to meet colleagues in blood and flesh, have those amazing non work discussions too. T wants to give a hug to M for the appreciation. M is thinking he wants to take his T for a party the first opportunity he gets. Aww.
M says, I want to go to the office.
T says, I want to go to office.
Never have they been so aligned on a goal.
The above experiment proves one thing in addition to the success of WFH and that is Absence makes the heart grow fonder 😊
