I moved to Chicago to work on the U.S. rollout of B2B Marketing in July. I have a desk in a shared workspace housed in a larger firm on North Michigan Avenue. The arrangement gives workers in a small startup environment access to big company perks: conference rooms with AV equipment, phone systems we don’t really understand how to use, bowls of fresh fruit, unlimited ice coffee – and an overtime view that we actually enjoy.
I also have a workspace at home, a standing desk that reminds me of the workbench where my father used to spend his Saturday afternoons listening to the radio and dispensing life advice: Always measure twice before cutting into the wood. My home office is a thoughtful place, one where I can get everything just so before pressing publish.
I do my work where it makes the most sense, in the place that best fits the task at hand. And I’m not alone. Almost a quarter of Americans split work between home and their offices, according the U.S. Department of Labor. Among marketers and their professional services peers, that percentage is even higher, with more than a third completing some or all of their work day at home.
Our offices are becoming more flexible, more collaborative places that allow people to easily move in and out of the workflow. Technology stacks are brimming with tools to support a decentralized workforce, and face-to-face networking and team building have taken new forms.
So B2B Marketing USA is pleased to be kicking off a series, looking at the offices – at home, downtown or in a backpack – where business marketing professionals create their best work. In the coming weeks, Tell Your Story’s George Rafeedie will share remote networking tips pulled straight from a shared workspace he established in Wilmette, Ill. Design firm Gensler’s Sheryl Schultze will talk about shrinking the cubicle to make room for teamwork.
