My son Joe is studying anthropology at University. I’m really envious of this.
He looks at how people behave and organise.
But its not just remote cultures in Papua New Guinea that are subject to anthropological study. Office cultures are too.
In one such study, British, American and Japanese workers in the same Tokyo office were observed. Where were the most misunderstandings? Between Yanks and Brits, surprisingly. Why? Because the two nationalities thought their common language was enough but they knew they had to explain with clarity to Japanese colleagues.
I was surprised just how animated people were this week when I asked them about their own working from home practices and in particular how they stayed switched on.
More than 600 people took part in the unscientific study in Public Sector Comms as to what they use to get in the zone at home.
Almost half listen to nothing, a quarter listen to music, seven per cent the radio and four per cent listen to podcasts with the same number listening to natural noise like rain or the sea.
So, we are all of us different.
I started work in a noisy newspaper office with phones ringing, chatter and the sound of keyboards being typed. I never thought I’d be working as I do in an office by myself listening to Radio Lento for the natural noise when I’m having to think with podcasts and audiobooks when I’m doing admin..
The pandemic drove a coach and horses through so many different things and when people left the office in March 2020 with laptops under their arms and Teams newly installed.
We have never really gone back.
But what works best? The office or working from home?
Academics would say that working from home is better for efficiency.
Working from home is harder for women and those with small children as the lines blur.
A hybrid of working from home and in the office two days a week is often optimal.
We are all of us different and the good manager will work with that.