Working from home offers numerous benefits... but it comes at a price of professional growth,
especially if you are new in grade, or are building your profile in preparation for promotion. The opportunity to showcase your talents and have a positive impact during a face-to-face meeting or in casual office interactions with others is limited to the occasional virtual meeting and your ability to interject at exactly the right time.
In the early 2000s, a smart professional development plan included building an Elevator Pitch for when you have the opportunity of running into someone of higher management, or an important client who may be visiting the office. The elevator pitch is a concise, compelling summary of a product, service, idea, or most importantly about yourself, that can be delivered in the short elevator ride. The idea is to leave the recipient with a positive impression of yourself and wanting to learn more.
Walking the Floor is another important activity, during these walks you will meet new colleagues and build connections which would not happen if you were working from home. You may stumble across and get involved in a new idea generation and opportunities to collaborate across functions. Observing people is also a great learning opportunity in itself. In an office environment, you are more likely to be aware of various initiatives, changes, and opportunities happening within the organisation.
The lack of visibility can make it harder for others to recognise your skills, accomplishments, and potential. Without the opportunity to showcase your abilities in person, it may be more challenging to gain recognition and be considered for promotions or new opportunities.
What about the efficiency and accuracy of getting the job done—working in an office allows for informal learning and knowledge sharing through quick conversations, asking questions, or observing others' work. Certain skills, such as effective communication, negotiation, and leadership, are often honed through regular interactions and experiences in the workplace. Remote work may provide fewer opportunities to practice and develop these skills, as well as other interpersonal and team-oriented abilities. Lack of in-person collaboration and immediate feedback can slow down the growth of these critical professional competencies.
The world has experienced a systemic shift to remote work, how this will impact employees’ professional development is not yet fully recognised; however, the debate between training for tomorrow versus productivity today continues.