Longer ago than I care to calculate, my father took me to his office as part of his company’s “bring your child to work” initiative with the hope that it might open my eyes to the real world.
The details of the day escape me, but what I do remember as an impressionable teenager, was the fact that his office was filled to the brim with feverishly busy colleagues. When I commented on how many people there were in the office, he simply responded: “We need them all here to get the job done.”
I look back now and wonder whether he was right. As I apply his response to agencies in today’s world, I question whether the “jackets on the back of a chair at 9am” mantra is the best solution for a client? Are they getting the best advice from the best team at the best value they deserve?
Getting the job done virtually
It’s the what, not the how
I have had the privilege of being both the client and working for the client, within the healthcare industry. Each organisation has had its own culture, values and approach to flexible working. One thing that has been consistent across the board, however, has been the need to deliver a first class service.
In my experience, the client – whether it be a director at an agency or a senior leader within a healthcare company – simply wants the job done well. They don’t, or shouldn’t, mind about the process of how it was achieved. For me, productivity has never equated to physical presence.
Maximising productivity
Simply put, with today’s demands on one’s time, more and more people want to work more flexibly. With this benefit comes increased productivity. A recent Stanford report showed a 13% productivity increase when employees worked remotely. I can verify this. Since having children, I have become acutely aware of the need to get the job done efficiently and to the highest possible standard. Unproductive meetings and casual coffees are a thing of the past.
The perfect solution
That’s why a virtual collective of senior healthcare advisers offers the perfect solution for our clients. They get access to a bespoke team of experienced professionals based on their requirements. The model allows them to work with a focused, agile team with proven sector-specific skills and a track record of delivering results. Similarly, the available talent pool is unlimited given the virtual nature of the business and ability to put together the team that you need, just when you need it.
Better still, without the overheads of an office, there’s an obvious benefit to the value for money that the client receives. This comes without any compromise to the seniority and quality of advice delivered.
The future is Different
What a difference a generation makes. I have no need to “bring my daughters to work”. They know that I am lucky enough to have the flexibility to work from home. When the time comes for me to show them the “real world”, I genuinely think it will be a very different one to that which my dear father showed me decades ago. I hope for them they have the luxury of being able to work in an agile, flexible organisation that doesn’t prioritise presence and ‘jackets on the back of chairs’ over perfection.
About the Author
Alex is a healthcare communications specialist with over 15 years’ experience working both in-house and for a leading agency. She has experience developing and delivering successful communication, corporate responsibility and employee engagement strategies. She currently works part-time at The Brain Tumour Charity as an industry adviser and spends the rest of her time freelancing, advising the pharmaceutical and biotech industry.
