The Office Strikes Back

Welcome to another edition of the New Bridge. Here, I will break down the future of work topics that matter, open your mind to use cases, and keep you ahead of the curve.

My #1 goal is to be helpful, so please send me an email if you have any questions or feedback.

In today’s edition:

• The office strikes back

• Work smarter, not harder

• Important vs urgent tasks

🎨 This Week’s Spotlight: Samantha Cavet 

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Let’s dive in.

THE OFFICE STRIKES BACK

Amid macroeconomic factors, uncertainty, and widespread layoffs, companies are calling employees back to the office, reversing flexible work arrangements previously established. While CEOs emphasize the value of in-person collaboration, many workers prefer flexible work for reduced burnout and improved work-life balance. Experts agree that hybrid work is the best long-term solution. However, the power shift from employees to employers is evident as companies leverage economic instability to enforce in-office work policies. This shift represents a significant change in the work landscape, with some arguing for the end of remote work.

Reality Check:

• The employees who return to the office aren’t the employees their bosses remember. They have spent a couple of years adjusting to a radically different rhythm—both in terms of work and their personal lives. They have shifted their working hours, learned to manage their tasks without excessive oversight, and have come to expect more control over how, when, and where their work gets done. They also place more value on family time and personal priorities

• It is important for organizations to re-imagine workplaces as dynamic environments that blend the best of remote work practices with the collaborative energy of in-person interactions. For businesses, embracing these changes means reevaluating policies, redefining cultures, and investing in technologies that facilitate seamless collaboration regardless of location

• Organizations should be dedicated to navigating this transition responsibly and effectively. Their commitment should not be to blank return-to-office mandates but to the evolution of work itself

• As we move forward, individuals will have many more options for making a living that does not include a 9-5 job. They will have the independence and freedom to work whenever and wherever they want. This is especially true with Gen Zs who have managed to find creative ways to ‘hustle’ and get paid the same or more than a traditional ‘office’ job

LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURNS

Productivity is a crucial aspect of any business, and it is essential to understand the factors that affect it. One such factor is the economic principle of diminishing returns, which states that after some optimal level of production is reached, adding more effort will result in smaller increases in output.

Applying this concept to the realm of work, it becomes evident that there's a point where putting in extra hours can lead to diminishing productivity. This highlights that excessive work hours often lead to decreased efficiency, errors, and burnout, eventually yielding sub-optimal results. Research from Stanford provides an overview of how the length of working hours affects work performance and other outcomes including health, well-being, and wages.

Another Stanford study found that productivity declines when working more than 50 hours a week. It sharply drops after 55 hours, where putting in any more hours is pointless.

Takeaways:

✅ Remember, it's not about grinding endlessly. It's about hustling intelligently, using resources wisely, and making every move count. Working smarter, not harder, is the key to unlocking maximum productivity without hitting that wall of diminishing returns

✅ “Busyness is not a means to accomplishment, but an obstacle to it” - Alex Soojung-Kim Pang

LUNCH & LEARN - IMPORTANT VS URGENT

This topic is an extension of ‘how to work smarter.’ In the fast-paced world of work, the 'urgent' often competes with the 'important.' But what really distinguishes these tasks?

Urgent tasks demand immediate attention. They press for action and are often time-sensitive. However, they don't always align with long-term goals. On the other hand, important tasks contribute to the broader mission and goals, driving progress and success. They may not be urgent, but are significant for growth.

The challenge? The urgency of a task doesn't always equate to its importance. In the frenzy of the urgent, important tasks can be overshadowed.

To excel, prioritize. Identify what truly matters—the important. Create a balance by allotting time to both urgent and important tasks. This ensures you're not just responsive but also proactive, advancing the bigger picture while managing immediate needs.

Efficiency lies in managing the urgent without neglecting the important. Make conscious choices to direct your energy where it truly matters. Achieve not just completion but meaningful progress.

You must be asking - ‘How can I possibly excel at getting things done when it’s already too much?!’

Here are some practical tips and tricks to excel in completing tasks at work:

Prioritize with the Eisenhower Box: Use the Eisenhower Matrix, categorizing tasks into four quadrants. Most of your focus will be on 'Important-Urgent’ and “Not important - Urgent’. Keep an eye on the ‘Important-Not Urgent’ quadrant to plan and execute tasks before they become urgent.

Set Clear Goals: Define clear, achievable, and time-bound goals. Break down larger important tasks into smaller, manageable steps. This creates a roadmap for success and helps track progress

Time Blocking: Allocate specific time blocks of 3-4 hours every day to dedicate solely to important tasks. This guards against interruptions and ensures focused work. Protect these time slots as you would a meeting

Eliminate Distractions: Minimize interruptions by silencing notifications, finding a quiet workspace, and using productivity apps that block distracting websites or apps during work periods

Utilize the Two-Minute Rule: If a task takes less than two minutes, tackle it immediately. This prevents a backlog of smaller, important tasks that can accumulate and become overwhelming

Avoid Multitasking: Focus on one task at a time. Multitasking can reduce efficiency and the quality of your work on important tasks

Delegate or Outsource: Assess if there are tasks that could be delegated or outsourced without compromising quality. This allows you to concentrate on more critical aspects

Regular Reviews and Adjustments: Regularly review your progress on important tasks. Adjust strategies or priorities as necessary. Reflecting on what works and what doesn’t is crucial for improvement

Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge and celebrate milestones achieved in completing important tasks. Recognizing progress motivates and reinforces the importance of the work you're doing

Stay focused, prioritize wisely, and watch your productivity soar 🚀

🎨 SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK:

My passion for art offers moments of serenity and reflection in the fast-paced world of HR. The fusion of these seemingly contrasting interests has propelled me to explore innovative ways to integrate both spaces. By combining my enthusiasm for digital art with my expertise in HR, I aim to foster creativity, diversity, and inclusion, leveraging blockchain technology’s potential and enhancing workplace culture and engagement.

In each edition of this newsletter, I shine a spotlight on a talented digital artist who's pushing the boundaries of creativity. Stay tuned for our featured weekly artist, where we'll explore their work, inspiration, and dedication to their craft.

🎨 This Week’s Spotlight: Samantha Cavet

Samantha Cavet, a photographer born in Venezuela, embarked on a transformative journey in 2015 when she relocated to Spain. She was driven by the pursuit of superior educational and personal opportunities.

Samantha was raised with a passion for both travel and an appreciation for the connection between landscapes and the art of photography. Her artistic journey took a more earnest turn in 2020. Her work centers around the profound exploration of human emotions, delving into nostalgia, melancholy, and tranquility. With a distinct personal touch, she artfully weaves dreamy pictorial landscapes that pay homage to the brushstrokes of Impressionist painters. Samantha attributes the diverse influence of paintings, music, films, and poetry to her creative process. Constantly pushing the boundaries, she continues experimenting with colors, concepts, and image editing, elevating her craft to create scenes that captivate with their visual allure, deep satisfaction, and an almost ethereal quality.

Here are three of Samantha’s exceptional works:

In Bloom: This piece was inspired by Samantha’s appreciation and attraction for traditional Chinese and Japanese art, particularly Ukiyo-e. She found great pleasure in knowing it refers to an idea of happiness derived from the realization that the world is "ephemeral, fleeting or transitory.” Her perspective on photographing a concept, subject, or landscape changed in ways that she had not been able to achieve before, thanks to this type of art. In Bloom is dedicated to this artistic movement and artists who constantly inspire and help her continue portraying her experiences, love, and emotions in the world

Mirage: This is a photograph that Samantha shot this summer while vacationing with her family in the south of Spain. Something about the landscape in this area was intriguing and exciting for the new approach she wanted to achieve. More than this, as she began to create the final result of the edit, a nostalgic feeling invaded her mind as she realized the photograph was a reminder of her home country. She originally comes from a place full of palm trees, hot weather, and coasts, so it was easy for her to feel attached to what this photograph was meant to portray. A warm, colorful memory, a mirage of our senses, reminding us that sometimes what we seek is nothing more than a reflection of our own longing

The Unconscious Perception of Love: This photograph is personal and emotional to Samantha. It is an emblem of a new phase of her life and personal growth. She has encountered obstacles and displayed strength, even in moments when she didn’t realize her own resilience. The ‘Unconscious Perception of Love’ symbolizes all those things that are part of her life that make her who she is and that drive her to move forward. She considers this piece one of her biggest motivations when she feels aimless

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

• Tech layoffs are back with a vengeance

• Microsoft, Amazon, among companies shaping AI-enabled hiring policy

• American workers most worried that AI will soon make their jobs obsolete

That’s all!

We’ll see you again next week. Email me if you think about any relevant topics you would like me to cover. Thoughts, feedback, and questions are welcome and appreciated.

You can read past The New Bridge newsletters on this site 🚀.

Cheers,

The New Bridge