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Kenya: far away or still close by?

On November 11, 2020, I left for Kenya to work remotely for four weeks. Before I left, I interviewed my colleague Wencke, Commercial Director at Great Place To Work. I asked her why she allowed me to go, what her concerns were, and what she hoped it would result in. Now, back in the Netherlands, we're speaking again.

Charlie's Travels | Travel Story | Kenya: far away or still close by?

"What is the effect of remote work on themes such as motivation, energy, and productivity? I’m investigating it – in Kenya!" – Barbara Braak

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Kenya: far away or closer than you think?

Published on January 5, 2021 – Barbara Braak On November 11, 2020, I left for Kenya to work remotely for four weeks. Before I left, I interviewed my colleague Wencke, Commercial Director at Great Place To Work. I asked her why she let me go, what her concerns were, and what she hoped it would achieve. Now, back in the Netherlands, we catch up again. How did the “home front” of colleagues experience my trip? Did the concerns turn out to be more or less than expected? And were the expectations exceeded or not met? Barbara: I’m back home! What did you notice about me working from Kenya? Wencke: Welcome back! It feels a bit strange because it doesn’t feel like you’ve been away. Apart from the fact that you’ve gotten much tanner, of course. I honestly never noticed the two-hour time difference. Especially since we were in touch daily via WhatsApp and the regular meetings were still on the agenda. In fact, I had the impression that you were even more focused than before you left!

"If you hadn’t told me you were going to Kenya, I wouldn’t have noticed."

Barbara: Where did you notice that? Wencke: Definitely in your energy and the positive vibe you brought to the team. What your energy did for our daily stand-ups every morning surprised me in a positive way. And I think potential clients felt that energy too. You managed to bring in one organization after another during that time, so I’d say go back again! Barbara: Before I left, you mentioned that you felt you would need to focus more on the KPIs and maintain more control due to the distance. How do you feel about that now? Was it actually necessary? Wencke: What was I thinking! I really came up against myself here. KPIs are KPIs, whether you're in the Netherlands, Kenya, or anywhere else. Looking at the situation now, you exceeded yourself and proved the opposite. What I really liked was your message about how grateful you were for the trust from the team. And that trust was 100%. Everyone looked forward to the morning to enjoy your stories again. The “go-to” factor was really there. Barbara: That was something I personally found mixed at first. How is it to see a happy, tanned face every day while you're back home and maybe not feeling your best? But anyway, anyone can go, you just have to take the initiative and take responsibility. Were there things you, we, or I could have done differently?

"You've got her again with her Africa stories. She slaughtered a goat with the Maasai while I spent the weekend curled up on the couch with a book again."

Wencke: No, I’ve only become more convinced that this is very possible and especially has a positive effect. What I was worried about, though, was that you might feel hesitant to speak up if you were having a down day in paradise. Barbara: Of course, there are moments. Personally, the heat while working on the beach was honestly a bit much at times. You can see that reflected in the productivity numbers too. But, when there's a heatwave in the Netherlands, you won't catch me sitting behind a laptop without air conditioning either. Otherwise, I went into it pretty open-minded, seeing it as an exploration and research. The result speaks for itself, and I wouldn't have done anything differently. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

"I've never felt more like myself before. The decision to go was made for myself. This is mine and no one else's, and that gave me so much energy and self-confidence."

Wencke: You've been away for a total of 5 weeks, 4 of which you worked. Is that a good duration for remote working? Barbara: If it's your first time remote working, I think this combination of working and traveling for five weeks is perfect. If I go again, and there's a good chance I will, I’d go for a longer period, maybe 6 to 8 weeks, to two different places where you have a good co-working space nearby. That way, you have a 'real' workspace and enough time to acclimatize. Wencke: What I’m curious about is whether it’s worked so positively because of the current time with COVID-19. How will it be when you leave in a 'normal' time? Do you already have a next destination in mind? Barbara: Yes, I’m curious about that too. It’s a bit of a wait-and-see situation, but I think it would be amazing to leave for France or Spain in March or April. My expectation is that work will largely remain online, and both my colleagues and I have experienced it positively. So why wouldn’t I do it!?

"I’m just expanding the research: what are the best places to work remotely?"

What would you want to advise other managers or organisations regarding remote working? Wencke: That you shouldn’t be afraid. It’s often more a confrontation with your own limiting thoughts than a reflection of your employees’ capabilities. If it does reflect a lack of trust in the employee, ask yourself where this comes from and have a conversation about it. And as mentioned before: make clear agreements with each other to avoid misunderstandings. When a parent takes their child to school for the very first time, it’s often the parents who struggle the most. After all, the child knows what the task is and adjusts easily.

"Anyone is welcome to call me. I'm not going to convince anyone, but I will ask them: what's stopping you?"

Barbara: "Personally, I felt the trust and safety to make my own choice. This is exactly why Great Place To Work truly lives up to its name. Practice what you preach!" If you're interested in going to Kenya yourself, click here. Curious about the full report? Keep an eye on LinkedIn!

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