This article originally appeared in the December 2021 issue of Security Business magazine. When sharing, don’t forget to mention Security Business magazine on LinkedIn and @SecBusinessMag on Twitter.
As we all gear up for 2022, many leaders are in the process of strategic planning, budgeting and thinking ahead to what the future holds. In addition to the start of a new year, it will also mark my one-year anniversary as CEO of PSA. As the proverbial saying goes, the year flew by! While we had a lot of success at PSA and I am proud of our accomplishments, it was not exactly what I had hoped for in many ways.
Culture is very important to me and the management team here – more specifically, a thriving, fun culture where we collaborate regularly, respect one another, embrace honesty and transparency, work hard, and maybe play harder.
I wanted to put my own spice into the mix; however, I was met with challenges creating this culture in my first year at PSA, with most of my team working remotely. PSA already had a great culture when I started, but it was never really addressed how, when or if there would be a full return to the office. This has caused challenges for our leadership and some consternation among teams as we began implementing office return requirements.
PSA requested that some of the teams that thrive in a collaborative environment return to the office full time in the summer of 2021. On the flip side, we have a few teams that have been working full remotely since March 2020. Most of our team falls somewhere in the middle. The ubiquitous “hybrid.” It is challenging to fully get to know everyone and drive the culture I am looking for when we are in this hybrid world. While it is hard to see into the crystal ball, I believe in 2022 it will be time to rip off the band aid and have the team fully return to the office.
Making the Case for the Office
Ultimately my vision for PSA is for employees to work full time in the office at our headquarters again, with only a few exceptions for medical exemptions, etc. While every company is different, and some may disagree with this strategy, I am a firm believer that the office environment is here to stay. Ultimately, humans are pack animals, and we are happier, safer and more capable when we are part of a pack. Companies who work together in an office will be more successful than their remote counterparts in the long run. I also believe in flexibility though. As a father of young children, I realize that things come up and sometimes you need a day to work from home.
How will we wrangle the PSA troops back into the office in 2022? With transparency, having sound reasoning and ensuring long-term flexibility and trust. I will explain why I think it is important for us to work together in one location for the long haul. I will give concrete, specific reasons to each team and work with their leaders to bring everyone back in the best manner for the team. I have already explained to the teams that had to return first why I was requiring it of them and not of others. Much like parenting, we cannot always treat every team or employee the same – some jobs lend better to remote work and some employees are more successful in an office than they are at home.
I realize employees now have the choice to find jobs that are fully remote, and I may lose some because of this. It is always a shame to lose a great employee, but I also want those on our team to be a proper culture fit. With time I believe employees will see the return has improved their own productivity and increased team collaboration and creative ideas.
And the office will be fun – with chili cook offs, community service projects and spontaneous happy hours. The transition period might be bumpy, but I believe it is worthwhile. What do you think?
Matt Barnette is CEO of PSA Security Network. Request more info about PSA at www.securityinfowatch.com/10214742.
