According to a report by Aquent, marketing and creative teams that have the flexibility to work remotely tend to perform better than those working onsite. The report indicates that 66% of remote teams are classified as high-performing, whereas only 47% of onsite teams received a similar designation. This suggests that remote work contributes to higher performance levels. Additionally, the report highlights that remote teams excel at seeking diverse perspectives, with 79% performing well in this area, compared to 61% of onsite teams. The report also emphasizes that remote work promotes inclusivity by providing opportunities for working parents, ethnically diverse employees, and employees with disabilities to feel valued and included in the workplace.
Despite some business executives advocating for a return to the office, the data from Aquent suggests that teams with the freedom to work remotely ultimately perform better. Furthermore, the report reveals that high-performing teams are highly effective at adapting to change and embracing innovation, such as artificial intelligence (AI). In fact, 96% of high-performing teams are very or moderately effective in this regard, compared to 73% of low- to moderately-performing teams. The report also underscores the potential of AI to enhance human talent and empower individuals to be more creative, agile, and efficient.
Regarding AI adoption, the report indicates that 41% of high-performing teams rated their team's level of AI adoption as excellent or good, while only 26% of low- to moderately-performing teams did so. Aquent's founder and CEO, John Chuang, expressed optimism about the role of AI in augmenting human potential and improving workplace dynamics, urging companies to consider these findings in shaping their workplace policies and decisions.
Furthermore, the report reveals that high-performing teams are more likely to be connected to a company's brand purpose and are adept at cultivating psychological safety, managing workplace stress and burnout, and promoting mental well-being. These findings underscore the importance of remote work flexibility and inclusive workplace policies in fostering high performance, innovation, and employee well-being for marketing, creative, and design talent globally.