Verkada’s Post

Summertime's here, but what's really exciting is that we're only 3 months away from the 4th Annual Post-Labor Day #ReturnToOffice Battle! Yes, indeed folks it's that season again, so step right up and place your bets! The chart below is Kastle Systems's latest office occupancy barometer, with two edits: ▶ I fixed the axis 😃 Kastle reports on occupancy as a percent of pre-pandemic norm, which was ~50%. So the reality is average occupancy today for the offices they measure is about 25%. ▶ The arrows show the last three big Labor Day pushes, along with the RTO push early this year. Each time, the impact is less than it was the time before. Last Labor Day got a 4 ppt bump, it's essentially flat ever since. Instead of trying to lure people in with $10 donations or free pizza, or threatening to mark their absence on their performance reviews ("tardiness goes on your permanent record!"), how about if we invest in helping people come together? After all, the vast majority of people want to come together with their team on a regular basis to build connection and collaborate. Stop mandating, start investing! Here's three ideas that work: 1. Listen to what people need, and invest behind it! Don't just survey, pull together a representative group of leaders who can tell you the challenges they're facing, and test new ways of working. They'll tell you they need ways to coordinate days together (hello Scoop), good wifi, and that the old spaces aren't really working anymore. 2. Support teams building out team-level agreements. It takes work and support, but having Sales and Engineering leaders figure out the purposeful work they want to do together (do NOT cram those days full of meetings!) is a path to better solutions. Roll it out, some teams will do it well, others not so much, but measure how teams who invest in those agreements perform! 3. Fund gatherings for teams. Most companies know this: their teams got more distributed post-pandemic. I can name a number of companies where over half of all teams aren't even in the same city. Telling those people to come in for team time rings hollow. Invest in quarterly gatherings and use offices if you've got them! The onsite is the new offsite. What's your bet on where we are post-Labor Day? I'll take 30% max by end of year, more likely 28%. #flexibility #returntowork #remote #remotework #hybrid #hybridwork #office

Still beaming after yesterday's eaRISE Open Discussion. 😍 ✨ Each month we host an open discussion (think lightly-facilitated office hours!) for our members. 💬 They can share a recent win at work, a new project or responsibility they've taken on, or a current challenge they're facing in their role. Together we celebrate, support, and offer guidance and ideas as needed. 🙌   It's a space by EAs for EAs where our members can get everything from company picnic venue recs to connections to five-star vendors to advice on how to deliver feedback. At our April Open Discussion we talked about: ⚖ Finding a work/life "integration" when working as a solo EA 🏊♀️ Creating "swim lanes" for EAs and Chiefs of Staff 👩💼 Building business acumen 📃 Advocating for a title promotion, salary increase, and/or spot bonus after completing an 'out of scope' project or significant increase in job responsibilities 🏢 Leveraging a commercial real estate broker for office moves We also celebrated an upcoming promotion for one of our members! 🍾 🥂 And (this is breaking news) announced the launch of our premium Slack account for all community members. 🎉 And all of this was covered in 60 minutes. 🤯 This is the power of community. Estella Freeman Kristen Shepard Megan N. K. Ashley Russell Sophie West Lydia Hill Justine J. 💙

Happy 5th and Friday. How many people have offices open today? How much work is getting done versus clock watching until people can get back to family, friends, and the fun they started yesterday? In my experience the people who are gonna accomplish something on a day like today had likely already planned to work or at least checkup on projects and clients. I’m off, or technically on call, but I’ve already exchanged a little work request and pleasantries with a client who’s on the clock. As owners and leaders it can sometimes be hard to take time off, but I promise you that real, delineated downtown will work wonders for your team. There are likely enough “always connected” in the group to bridge the gaps…even though you should encourage them to break too. Don’t begrudge employees their lives and the biggest bonus you can give them is time to be themselves. Independence isn’t just for the country.

Slowing down to tune inward can feel really hard when your adrenaline is pumping and your ambitions are sky high. I know, because I lived that way for most of my life, right up until the point I burnt out. You never think that burnout can happen to you — sometimes long after it’s already happening. But the reality is that our bodies and minds aren’t designed for the way most of us are living today. And yet all we really need is To build in cycles of rest, recovery, regeneration Cycles that exist already in nature to support life Just not at work But we designed work this way — So we can redesign work culture, can’t we? Imagine how much easier it would be to bring people back to the office — If the office felt like a retreat? — When you join Rest to Harvest for 3 months, you get 12 mini retreats right in the middle of your work week And even better, you learn how to keep that space in your work cycle even after your membership ends. Rest to Harvest meets you where you are To take you where you want to be. Join us, this is the final week for the founding member circle, which comes with lifetime access to the alumni community. Link below

Are you tired of the same old routine at the office? Looking for a change of scenery and some productive work time? Well, we have the perfect solution for you! Tomorrow, Thursday 22nd November, we are hosting a co-working event at The Mearns Community Hub from 9.30am to 12.30pm. It's a great opportunity to get out of the office, have some focused work time and then network with like-minded individuals. The Hub provides a comfortable environment for you to work in. With free Wi-Fi, coffee, and snacks, you'll have everything you need to be productive. Plus, being surrounded by other driven individuals can help motivate you and give you fresh perspectives on your work. But that's not all! Our co-working event also includes networking opportunities. It's a chance to meet new people, share ideas, and potentially collaborate on future projects. You never know who you might meet and what opportunities may arise. So why not break out of your routine and join us at The Hub tomorrow? You'll be able to get your work done in a different setting, meet new people, and maybe even learn something new. It's a win-win situation! There are still spots available, so make sure to book your spot now before they fill up. We can't wait to see you there and spend the morning co-working with you. Let's make it productive and enjoyable together! #Coworking #Networking #Productivity #TheHub #EastRen #Collaboration #NewOpportunities

Do you spend all your time with your coworkers? 😢 While it's great to have friends at work, it's also important to have friends outside of work. Having friends outside of your work bubble can help you: - Having friends outside of work can help you relax and recharge. - Your friends outside of work can introduce you to new people, places, and experiences. This can help you grow as a person. - You have friends outside of work, you have people to talk to about your problems and celebrate your successes. Discover a world beyond your workspace with Oopar Club! 🌍✨ Connect with like-minded folks and create meaningful connections outside the office #workspacefriends #likemindedcommunity #worklifebalance #socialcircle #meaningfullconnections

So good to be working from Together Workspace today! The perfect change of scenery, the calmest vibe, and so good to meet other local professionals. I’ll definitely be back! Adamson Ross Wealth Management Daniel Broughton #coworking #financialadvice #future

🤝EMBRACING THE POWER OF COMMUNITY🧡   Sure - we could be just about shared desks and office spaces.  But we aren’t ;) THRIVE is about bringing a community together where collaboration thrives and connections flourish, a network of inspiring individuals coming together to create, learn, and grow!    #CommunityLove: Our community is the heartbeat! Each member brings a unique spark to our coworking family, from entrepreneurs to freelancers to innovators and dreamers.   #CommunityEvents: The fun never stops at THRIVE! From networking mixers to skill-building workshops, we aim to find new ways to bring our members together for shared experiences and opportunities.   #ThankYou: A shoutout to every member who makes THRIVE a second home. Your passion and energy fuel the magic that happens here every day! #workatthrive #thrivecoworking #thrivevibe #thrive #coworking #coworkingspace #connection #community #bettertogether #work #inspire #community #gratitude #networking #charleston

Reflecting on the Success of Our Burlington Retreat! A week ago, we shared our excitement as our team embarked on our company retreat in beautiful Burlington, Vermont. Now that we've returned, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the incredible experience we had and the valuable lessons we've gained. 1️⃣ Being together in person was a game-changer. We were able to connect on a deeper level, getting to know each other on a personal level that virtual meetings simply can't replicate. The bonds we formed during our time in Burlington have undoubtedly strengthened our team and will continue to drive our collaboration forward. 2️⃣ One of the most remarkable outcomes of our retreat was the way it helped us fine-tune our collaboration styles. We took the opportunity to understand each team member's personality better, enabling us to tailor our interactions and communication for even greater synergy. It's incredible how much more effective our teamwork has become. 3️⃣ Another highlight was the chance to dive deep into the tools and platforms we use daily as a company. Face-to-face discussions and hands-on experiences allowed us to gain a much better understanding of these essential resources. We're returning to our virtual workspaces with newfound expertise and a more efficient workflow. 4️⃣ Our collective sense of teamwork has been redefined. We've not only deepened our professional relationships but also fostered an atmosphere of trust and openness. Our shared vision and commitment to excellence are more evident than ever. Our mission to provide top-tier service remains stronger than ever, and we're eager to translate the lessons learned in Burlington into tangible benefits for our growth with our clients. #Teamwork #ProfessionalGrowth #BurlingtonRetreatSuccess

WFO.... The Good, the Bad and the Ugly! Companies have started to call back their associates to office for quite sometime. Initially it was one day a week, then three days. Now they want to make it 5 days a week. The Good: Great office atmosphere is the best. If your team and you work together, then it is more productive and fun. All the events conducted, movies watched together, games played creates a sense of unity among the teammates. The Bad: Working from home meant Freedom. It could be freedom to go to you relative's home, go for a festival, go to church, it could be anything. Post lockdown, we were able to manage all this along with work. With coming to office, it's a new life all together, leaving our community out. The Ugly: If your team is not working in your office and if you are still connecting to them virtually, what's the point in WFO. It's even more boring and unproductive. The commute, the rent paid to stay in the city, going back home, being away from family, hotel food. What's the point here. I think I fall in this category and not sure what to do 😞 Deciding between WFO and WFH should be personal preference. Atleast they should be ready to allow a week of month to be spend at home or a quota should made. As technology increases, we are to decide, are we actually making a step forward or backward? Thanks 😊 #wfo #wfh #it #corporate #force