Working solely remotely poses serious threats to career growth and development, according to behavioural coach and founder of Hawksby Justin Kent.
Speaking on Arabian Business‘ AB Majlis podcast, Kent said without in-person exposure, “it’s very difficult for young professionals to determine what fields people are truly suited for.” He advised seeking hybrid or fully on-site roles to gain valuable experience.
“For juniors, it’s really important that they’re listening to people and seeing how they resolve issues in the workplace. You just can’t get that over video calls,” Kent said.
Without closely observing experienced colleagues, professionals miss out on vital “osmosis learning” – unconsciously absorbing communication styles and workplace dynamics.
Kent also cited “a real social element” missing for young remote workers. “The [covid] lockdown was interesting as it showed that young people like to go for a coffee with their peers during and after work,” he said.
To advance, professionals must “see people at different stages in their careers in a workplace, how they work and interact,” Kent explained. They learn “social manners” and “etiquette” impossible to gain remotely.
As AI spreads, Kent warned against overreliance: “How can you progress your career if you’re not forming real human connections?” Hybrid roles best balance productivity with important socialisation that drives growth.
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