The Inspire Podcast

The Conversations you Need To Have as you Return to the Office - with Alan Richardson

Written by Bart Egnal | Apr 17, 2023 3:15:00 PM

In this conversation, Bart speaks with Alan Richardson, SVP of Talent Strategy & Solutions at RBC, about the bank's approach to bringing workers back to premises. Alan discusses why the bank decided last fall to ask employees to come together in person more, and what they've learned since. He discusses how to think about closing the "communication distance" and not just "physical distance", the essential role of tools and technology, and how managers have the most critical role to play. Alan shares some of the challenges of hybrid work arrangements and how the bank has sought to be empathetic and intentional in this move. Finally, in a new introduction and conclusion, Alan discusses why the bank's CEO Dave McKay recently asked workers to be in person even more... and what the future may hold. This is an invaluable discussion for any leader wrestling with the balance of creating connection in this new era of hybrid work.

Read more about RBC's people and culture here: https://www.rbc.com/newsroom/people-culture/index.html

 

 

00:29 Intro

01:03 Welcoming Alan

01:18 Follow-up notes on announcement 

02:10 Making exceptions more consistent

02:55 The real value of coming together 

03:59 Humility and care of RBC's approach

05:47 What has worked and what challenges 6 months in?

06:54 Structure helps with flexibility

07:22 RBC's 3 days a week

10:34 Misconceptions and trust issues

12:06 What are we really after here with this return to work?

12:25 Challenge of communication distance vs physical distance

13:01 Example of red line / Cuban crisis 

13:44 There are tools that can close communication distance

15:31 Keys to closing communication distance

15:49 What in-person does for teams

16:15 Build a foundation for the architecture of problem-solving

16:58 Ability to use the technology is key

19:02 Employees have a strong voice now

21:10 Ensuring the return to work is better than before

21:26 Equitable, inclusive experience

23:38 How are you advising leaders to deal with the return to work?

24:37 Different approach is needed across RBC

25:54 Hold managers accountable to have those conversations

26:58 Guardrails for the return to work conversation

27:21 Depends on the type of role

27:50 Beliefs around inclusion

29:41 Hybrid is more work

31:11 It's really change management

31:59 What are the conversations that need to happen in the next 6 months?

32:30 Are things clear enough?

33:05 Between senior level and managers

33:59 People and their teams

34:34 Bart sums it up

35:42 The benefits of getting it right are real

36:40 Thank yous

38:52 Outro