Working Virtually doesn’t have to be Plan B

(Originally published March 17 on LinkedIn)

Learning, connecting, and decision-making doesn’t happen in a workshop room, office, or conference centre. It happens in our imaginations, our hearts, our guts.

At a time when organisations are managing the risk of viral transmission, many are restricting travel and group gatherings. And I’m busy re-designing learning spaces to work in a virtual environment. But not because it’s Plan B.

We have multiple senses to draw on; working virtually can enhance our capacity to notice subtle dynamics, in the way that being in front of someone can distract.

Dynamics between people are often amplified in the virtual space and inhibitions less pronounced.

My lived experience of leading and facilitating academic programmes, team sessions, one to one coaching and supervision, and even systemic enquiries – tells me that the quality of our work is in the quality of our dialogue. Our capacity to care and take notice of one another. Our ability to sense the emerging purpose of our roles, and to take action with clarity and accountability.

So log on, check in, connect, and let’s continue to make sense of organisational life, to notice the themes and priorities emerging, and to make informed decisions about the work of leadership.