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Welcome to The Nowhere Office with Julia Hobsbawm OBE
The battle over the office is raging. Leaders like Elon Musk and Alan Sugar are demanding a full return, calling remote workers lazy. But are they fighting a losing battle against the biggest shift in work in 100 years?
In this episode from the archive, Andy Lopata revisits his conversation with author and thinker Julia Hobsbawm OBE about her game-changing concept: "The Nowhere Office." This isn't an argument for no office, but a radical rethinking of why we gather.
Julia dismantles the myth of presenteeism, exposing the pre-pandemic workplace as deeply dysfunctional and unproductive. She argues that leaders must move beyond their "passion for presenteeism" and embrace a new, flexible reality. Discover the three new, essential purposes of the physical office and learn how leaders can navigate this moment of "ultra-transparency" to build a more trusting and high-performing culture. The future of work is here. Are you ready?
What You will Learn From This Episode
3 Actionable Insights
Challenge Your "Passion for Presenteeism": Before mandating a return to the office, ask yourself: "What is the work, and where and how does it need to be done?" Shift your focus from watching people work to trusting them to deliver results, and question whether your desire for an in-person
workforce is based on tradition rather than strategy.
Redefine Your Office as a Destination: Repurpose your physical workspace for specific, high-value activities. Intentionally schedule in-person time for the three key pillars: informal social networking, collaborative learning (including mentoring), and critical face-to-face meetings like conflict resolution.
Embrace Customisation Over Mandates: Move beyond a rigid "3 days in, 2 days out" policy. Acknowledge that your team has diverse needs (introverts/extroverts, different home setups) and work towards a "fully customised" approach. Start open conversations about what works for the individual and the team to build a culture of genuine flexibility and trust.
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
Connect with Andy Lopata: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | YouTube
Connect with Julia Hobsbawn OBE: Website |X Formerly Twitter |
The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring
Episode 158 Featuring Julia Hobsbawn OBE
View all episodes
By Evergreen Podcasts
5
55 ratings
The battle over the office is raging. Leaders like Elon Musk and Alan Sugar are demanding a full return, calling remote workers lazy. But are they fighting a losing battle against the biggest shift in work in 100 years?
In this episode from the archive, Andy Lopata revisits his conversation with author and thinker Julia Hobsbawm OBE about her game-changing concept: "The Nowhere Office." This isn't an argument for no office, but a radical rethinking of why we gather.
Julia dismantles the myth of presenteeism, exposing the pre-pandemic workplace as deeply dysfunctional and unproductive. She argues that leaders must move beyond their "passion for presenteeism" and embrace a new, flexible reality. Discover the three new, essential purposes of the physical office and learn how leaders can navigate this moment of "ultra-transparency" to build a more trusting and high-performing culture. The future of work is here. Are you ready?
What You will Learn From This Episode
3 Actionable Insights
Challenge Your "Passion for Presenteeism": Before mandating a return to the office, ask yourself: "What is the work, and where and how does it need to be done?" Shift your focus from watching people work to trusting them to deliver results, and question whether your desire for an in-person
workforce is based on tradition rather than strategy.
Redefine Your Office as a Destination: Repurpose your physical workspace for specific, high-value activities. Intentionally schedule in-person time for the three key pillars: informal social networking, collaborative learning (including mentoring), and critical face-to-face meetings like conflict resolution.
Embrace Customisation Over Mandates: Move beyond a rigid "3 days in, 2 days out" policy. Acknowledge that your team has diverse needs (introverts/extroverts, different home setups) and work towards a "fully customised" approach. Start open conversations about what works for the individual and the team to build a culture of genuine flexibility and trust.
SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE
Connect with Andy Lopata: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | YouTube
Connect with Julia Hobsbawn OBE: Website |X Formerly Twitter |
The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring
Episode 158 Featuring Julia Hobsbawn OBE