Culture

#RemoteSquad

by Sarah Miller

How we work is a hot topic that can carry some heavy connotations. With the share of full-time office goers dropping, it's evident that companies are embracing the flexibility that the pandemic forced. But not everyone is happy about it—it can be a hard transition. At LaunchSquad we believe that when done intentionally and inclusively, remote work has the potential to change work-life balance for the better. 

“When you’re a people-first company, you’re always looking for talented individuals who are inspired by your work and would like to contribute to your team,” LaunchSquad Partner Brett Weiner recently told me. “By offering a remote working environment and increased flexibility, we can focus on building a diverse team without the restriction of location.”

At LaunchSquad, we welcomed the challenges and the changes that came with leading a remote-first team. We looked at colleague isolation, broken communication and decreased collaboration and proactively worked to find solutions as we adjusted to remote work. Since the start of the pandemic, we've been communicating with our team in more meaningful ways and minimizing behaviors that can lead to burnout and inefficiencies. We’ve also implemented a Flex Friday program: every other Friday is a day off and if you’re online on Friday, it’s meetinfree. Efforts like Flex Friday ensure our teams can show up and bring their best energy and ideas to work while also making time for important commitments outside of work. 

As a former #SquadTalks guest, Ann Helen Petersen, has said about being remote, “we see a real chance to repair our relationship to work.”

We believe that success in a virtual-first setting boils down to an understanding that each team member's day is going to look a little different as they tackle their own work, and we had to create processes that embrace increased flexibility while still holding ourselves accountable. 

All of this sounds good in theory, but what does virtual-first work mean in practice? Our #RemoteSquad shared some thoughts: 

The flexibility to do something small – like a quick midday grocery run with my sister – to have a brain break. - Anna, SAE, Atlanta

The opportunity to live and discover cities outside of the traditional PR hubs. I get to live in one of my favorite places, upstate New York, and still work with companies doing amazing work and collaborate with colleagues all across the US. - Jaymi, SAE, Ithaca

The ability to work with a kitty curled up in my lap. - Roz, SAE, Tampa

The power to tailor my work day to my productivity needs. I can fully focus and get more done during working hours, which ultimately helps my work-life balance. - Taylor, AM, Minneapolis

The flexibility to spend nearly a year as a nomad while maintaining consistency in my career. I was able to explore new places, work in different environments, and have a change of scenery before deciding on a more permanent move.  - Claire, VP, Denver

The opportunity to connect and work with people all over the world, regardless of my location. - Sarah, SAE, Omaha

As an independent agency, our work is adaptable and a virtual setup is entirely achievable. We hope to serve as a litmus test for its success in the near and far future. Case in point, we’re already seeing an improved experience for our colleagues: since the implementation of #RemoteSquad, we’ve seen our highest levels of employee retention and satisfaction. 

Now don’t get us wrong, we still see value for in-person experiences (we host seasonal SquadMeets and you can’t forget the annual pie bake-offs), but providing avenues for remote work makes us a more well-rounded company. 

Through intentional connection and a flexible-first approach, we can bring our best selves to work. And THAT creates GREAT WORK.

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