CULTURE CHAT EXPLORES CHANGING WORKPLACE EXPECTATIONS

By Sophie Casciano, DLE Communications Intern

The DLE’s summer session of Culture Chat brought together 25 attendees from various industries, locations and backgrounds for a lively discussion on The Workplace Reset. Attendees swapped insights, ideas and actions that could help build stronger human connections. Here’s a recap of discussion highlights about changing workplace expectations.

• A participant who experienced the transition from managing a virtual team to returning to the office emphasized the importance of setting clear expectations, such as showing enthusiasm and taking pride in the positive culture team members created from the bottom up.
• The issue of departmental disconnect and siloed meetings resonated with many participants. While remote work had its advantages, it was important to address the lack of connection. Discussion touched on the importance of having a designated working-from-home day for focused tasks and the significance of creative meetings to foster connections in the workplace.
• During breakout sessions, participants shared ideas for bridging the gap between virtual and in-person interactions. To gain perspective and hear updates, many said they actively sought out opportunities to join meetings outside of their team and connect with different team members.
• Attendees sought solutions to bridge the virtual disconnect, using platforms like Slack to send funny GIFs and connect on a more personal level. Small actions like this can build meaningful connections beyond work-related matters.