Bright open office spaces and millennials working at coffee shops are popular images conjured by the phrase "future of work." Workspace and telecommuting continue to be hot topics for debate among executives. With the available technologies today that support collaboration, communication and knowledge sharing, it is possible to have high-functioning global teams that work in and out of offices and in various countries and time zones. Teams can work around the clock and workers who were traditionally sidelined due to mobility or personal constraints now have more options to participate in the work force.
The idea of the "workplace of the future" – a combination of redesigned office space and telecommuting – was devised as both an employee-engagement tactic and a significant real estate cost-saving opportunity. By introducing telecommuting, bringing down cubicle walls and allowing for more flexible desk assignment and work spaces, companies can operate with a smaller footprint: That's a win-win for companies and employees alike, who enjoy the freedom of working where and when they are most productive. More emphasis is placed on productivity and results and less about "Have I seen you lately?" In fact, I haven't had a dedicated office space for most of my career and when I did, I worked remotely a few days a week. Some weeks I did not see my team members at all – and those were some of our most productive weeks.
We've seen the pendulum swing back, with some tech companies (such as Yahoo in 2013 and more recently, IBM this past winter) bringing workers back into the office. These companies that once led the way for remote working have reined workers in under the assumption that face-to-face interaction leads to better collaboration, innovation and, ultimately, results.