September 16th, 2021

By Kristy Leclerc

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How Video Conferencing Has Changed The Workplace Dynamic

Chief Technology Officer

Seemingly overnight, the workplace changed. Managers and employees alike packed up their desks and headed for the shelter of their home, some opting for makeshift ‘offices’ on kitchen benches and coffee tables. Months later, some returned to the office while others remained at home, choosing instead to work remotely. 

While COVID-19 may have changed the face of the workforce, the workplace dynamic has also changed. This is thanks to video conferencing. These solutions have, on one level, provided workplaces with the tools needed in order to facilitate virtual meeting rooms.

On a deeper level, these tools have worked to change workplace dynamics. By providing the tools to sustain remote and seamless communication, employees can work from anywhere in the world, challenging the notion of the 9-5 workday and perceived power imbalances.

A distributed workforce

Like any transition, the switch to a distributed workforce didn’t come without challenges. Many organisations must embrace new technologies and change their communication norms in order to adapt and survive.

However, working remotely showed employees and employers alike just how beneficial such an arrangement can be. This kind of flexibility was especially attractive to employees who were growing disenfranchised with the idea of going into the office everyday. 

Working remotely also highlighted to employers the possibility for new hiring practices. If employees in the same state can meet and work effectively and efficiently from home, why can’t employees from all around the world work together in a similar fashion?

In order to embrace these positives, workplace dynamics had to change. New frameworks needed to be established and hiring processes changed to disregard location barriers. Employees also had to be equally empowered and supported to work from home.

That meant providing employees with the tech and infrastructure needed to perform tasks. And just like that, modern video conferencing solutions enabled workplace dynamics to change in order to keep up with, and succeed in modern times. 

Quality of work, not time spent working

Along with the notion of fully remote teams, traditional attitudes towards productivity have also become outdated. It is no longer viable to place the emphasis on how long someone spends at their desk. Rather, more weight needs to be given to the output of work

This is because the home environment changes productivity levels. Without common office distractions, work feels seamless. Additionally, employees are more comfortable in their own space, resulting in greater output.

Virtual meetings are also proving to be more efficient than their in-person counterparts. This is because working from home has afforded employers and employees the opportunity to look at their time differently.

Every hour is precious. With this in mind, work agendas have been re-focused, prioritising important meetings and removing unnecessary conferences from the calendar. All of which means that employees have more time than ever before to actually complete tasks. 

Therefore, in order to attract and retain top talent, employers in the new workforce have to prioritise output. Implementing new goals to ensure that team members are valued and judged for what they produce, rather than how many hours they log at their desk. 

Otherwise, the newly empowered employee, aided by the ease and versatility of video conferencing solutions, will simply look for an organisation that has adapted sufficiently and successfully in order to meet the demands of modern workplace dynamics. 

An agent for change

Video conferencing solutions are also actively working to shift power imbalances that may be subconsciously present in organisations. This is largely thanks to the fact that video conferencing levels the playing field.

Instead of managers sitting at the head of the meeting table and employees gathering accordingly, everyone attending a video conference is operating off a screen. As such, employees feel more comfortable and confident to speak up and impart their views. 

The blurred hierarchy also provides other benefits. With every employee occupying the same amount of space on a video conferencing screen, there is an elevated awareness to shifts in mood and tone. Leading to more open and honest conversations. 

Embracing these shifts in behaviour by checking in with staff, inviting different employees to lead certain discussions or even welcoming different ideas, opens the door for change and respect. Resulting in a workforce that is diverse in representation and ideas.

Equipping your business for success in the new workplace

With advancements in technology comes changes in society. In a recent example, technology advancements in the form of video conferencing solutions have ultimately transformed the workforce.

Instead of requiring every single employee or manager to work in the office, video conferencing enables employees to work remotely- efficiently and effectively- from any location in the world.

As the true benefits of video conferencing become known, more businesses are embracing these technology solutions and the subsequent changes in workplace dynamics as the key to sustained long term success in the new, modern workforce.

Therefore, everything from retaining employees and attracting the top talent to remaining competitive in the ever changing business landscape revolves around embracing video conferencing solutions. To equip your business for success, contact Logitech VC today.

With a Masters in Business Marketing, and a 15 year background spanning process management, B2B relationship management and customer facing roles, Kristy has always held an interest in the psychology behind customer choices. As Logitech’s Business Marketing Specialist for the last three years, Kristy has looked after all outgoing and internal marketing objectives, working with external agencies to create a holistic product offering through ads and content. Kristy’s goal is to ensure Logitech is known as a serious player in the collaboration space; not just boardroom suitable, but easy to deploy from wherever work happens. She’s passionate about helping customers identify their next normal through hybrid working spaces to ensure business continuity, and is thrilled to collaborate with her wider team in a company that sees itself as a huge ambassador for working from home.
Kristy Leclerc
VC Marketing Manager, ANZ

We help businesses transform the way
they communicate

Our organisations have built a solid relationship over many years and found Logitech’s unified communication range of products fit for purpose and quality in design & build. Their plug and play methodology across the technology range works seamlessly with Zoom Video Conferencing - With consistent new and exciting development and innovation across the business.

JEFF ANDERSON
Manager, Meeting Room Experience
Enterprise Technology | National Australia Bank Limited

The Australian Red Cross are an organisation focused on humanitarian values. Everything is about face-to-face relationships and that’s very difficult to do when you have 120 sites across the country. Now, with everyone able to communicate and collaborate face-to-face, it’s changing the way we work.

MARTIN CONNOLY
Head of ICT Operations
The Australian Red Cross

We tried upwards of 10 different manufacturers and devices... Once we found a solution that worked, we put it in every single room so the user experience got a lot better.

ANDREW STOTT
Manager, Service Delivery
Hall & Wilcox

We share a lot of learnings and knowledge with local Tasmanian organisations – they’re looking at the Universities meeting rooms and Video Conferencing solutions to guide the design process of their own spaces.

BRADLEY BORON
Manager, Unified Communications IT Services
University of Tasmania

Our previous video conferencing service was proving inadequate, which was deterring employees from using it. We decided to switch to Logitech. The new solutions have been a real hit with our employees, delivering excellent performance and seamless integration with our existing work collaboration applications. Being able to manage the technology in house also means we can now be proactive in our incident response, meaning less downtime for users.

CARL THOMPSON
Senior Product Manager for Unified Communications
Department for Work and Pensions, British Government

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