What a robot company teaches us

Do you know what the main difference is between a fully robotized company and a human-led one? It could be costs or performance, but there is more: it’s that humans have personal agendas. And that changes everything we know about work, workplace relationships, and company culture. Let’s dive into what that comparison gives us.

A robot simply does its job, and nothing else. Yes, it is super efficient, cheaper, and, for some tasks, better than us. A human brings more to the equation: their will, beliefs, opinions, likes, and dislikes. Let’s hold onto that point: where does all of this surface the most? Informal communication. A key aspect of company culture.

Most companies lack clear pipelines for informal communication. It just happens, and that’s great. In my opinion, leaders should include that necessity by considering two points:

• Informal communication should be welcomed and encouraged. Saying hi in the morning, having a space where conversations naturally occur, playing games together, having after-hours, etc. Pay extra attention to the lunch break and make sure it sparks the right opportunities, as this is often when informal banter happens most.
• And most importantly, recognize that employees do more than work, and factor that into the company’s strategy. Creating a great place to work is also about caring about life outside of work. Internal politics can be hard to manage and shouldn't be a byproduct; it should be part of organizational design.

And that is one of the differences between “just work” and loving one’s job. In many circles, not just the workplace but also politics or school, personal agendas are shaping behaviors. The old “people in, money out” is slowly becoming obsolete, especially as Gen Z enters the workplace. In our modern world, culture cannot take a back seat: it has to be designed intentionally.