When you’re at work, do you keep pictures of your family on your desk? Happily bring your spouse and kids to the summer work picnic? Or are you more inclined to keep your private life separate from your work life?
Dr. Nancy Rothbard says that most of us are either integrators –people who easily blend their personal and professional lives – or segmenters, those who, even when working from home, get dressed for the office each day and go into a room with a closed door. Neither one is better or worse for an office space – in fact, companies need both types – but understanding which category you may fit into can help you navigate your work-from-home situation and perhaps have a better return to the office whenever you head back.
Dr. Nancy Rothbard is the David Pottruck Professor of Management and Chair of the Management Department at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.
You can read her article about integrators and segmenters here: https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/working-from-home-navigating-the-pandemics-new-normal/