How a meaningful return to office can inspire our next generation
A few months ago, I had the opportunity to host a half-day design thinking workshop with students from McCallum High School here in Austin. For the past few years, these students had a very different high school experience than many of us had. Many of them spent a lot of time virtual or hybrid, so taking a field trip was special from the jump. Over the time we had with the students, we ran them through a variety of design thinking exercises we use at IBM, gave them a better picture at what life as an IBMer is like, showed them around the studio, and hosted a panel to help them understand how non-linear the world can be when it comes to finding a career you enjoy.
However, what’s important isn’t the content of the workshop, it’s the idea behind it and the impact it had. Throughout the day it was common to catch a student’s eyes light up. As they listened and learned, you could feel the confidence and comfort growing. These students have already dealt with so much uncertainty and with graduation on the horizon there was only more to come. By bringing them in and introducing them to a variety of professionals, we essentially were able to say to them, “Look, it isn’t always easy, but it will always work out if you put in the effort.” The day became less about teaching and more about inspiring, motivating, and building. Opening our doors to these students had immeasurable impact on their lives. An impact many of us probably felt in some way when we were on field trips of our own or during a conversation with someone we admired and respected.
So, maybe it isn’t a return to the office we need to focus on. Instead, I suggest we shift our goal to be a return to our communities. Now more than ever, we need to show up for each other — especially younger generations. Embracing servant leadership and the idea that we should prioritize the greater good might be what we need to build more passion and invigoration around our work and professional lives. By giving back to our communities we can rebuild bridges and connections lost to time. We can have a greater impact on the world around us.
How can this be put into practice? The answer will look different depending on your role, city, and passions. Maybe it is getting involved with a BRG, organizing your own event with a local group, or finding out about other volunteer opportunities available to you. What matters is getting yourself out there in service of others. Returning to your community has no rules, blueprint, playbook, or guide. You simply just need to show up and give all you have to offer.
Noah Trevino is a visual designer at IBM based in Austin, TX. The above article is personal and does not necessarily represent IBM’s positions, strategies or opinions.
