Think about it first
After 7 years fully WFH as a Project Manager at a major investment bank, I’ve decided to take a new role that will probably be hybrid: 2 or 3 days a week in the office and a 20k pay cut.
A few years ago I’d never have considered that. But over time I’ve realised there are things I’ve genuinely missed working remotely full time. The biggest thing for me has been the lack of everyday interaction. When I started remote I genuinely struggled to learn. There was no osmosis and alack of context. No watching how a senior person handles a difficult stakeholder in the room. No energy when a team actually clicks on a problem together. No overhearing conversations and learning something unexpectedly. No turning to someone and saying “does this sound right to you?”
I think WFH works brilliantly for a lot of things like focus time, flexibility, quality of life and I’m not her to trash it and am genuinely grateful I had the opportunity to do it for so long.
However, I have also realised that a lot of learning, confidence, and relationships happen in the small unplanned moments during the day. Especially in project delivery and leadership roles. I am excited about being around people again, learning from others, and feeling part of a team in a way I’ve probably missed more than I realised.