Huzzah for the Hybrid Workplace
It’s the most viable kind of workplace in the post-Covid world–with a few creative tweaks to keep both employees and managers happy.
As we learn how to accommodate Covid in our midst, the traditional workplace is in dynamic flux, as hybrid work models are fast gaining traction and, in many cases, even enjoying a moment.
There are many reasons for the growing popularity of the hybrid workplace besides the obvious perks of flexible work hours and working from home on some days. Companies and their employees have nothing to lose and everything to gain from exploring a hybrid work dynamic. Giving employees autonomy to work from home expands their productivity horizon while meeting work deliverables and fulfilling company obligations.
At the height of the pandemic, more than half of employees surveyed expressed concerns about exposure to illness in the workplace; a hybrid work model cuts exposure and supports those that need to limit risk. For decades “work-life balance” has been discussed to the point of being cliché, but the pandemic has brought it to the fore and showed its many possibilities in the hybrid work setup. Flexible work models recognize the universal need to prioritize family, physical and mental health, and emotional wellness.
Expectation setting. Everyone’s new in this together, which makes it the perfect occasion to set workable and realistic expectations without much of the baggage of the conventional workspace model.
Flexibility. A sound hybrid model includes a variety of work styles for collaborating, communicating, and interacting. Employees may engage via phone calls, video conferences, emails, or mixed meetings that have some workers on site, with others attending virtually according to their ability and location.
Support. Empathy for employees is key to a successful hybrid model. Today employees may be feeling both isolated and stressed out by remote work even as they’re hesitant about returning to work in person. A compassionate and empathetic leadership empowers teams to achieve company goals with genuine respect for team members’ work-life balance.
Management. A workplace–be it traditional, remote, or hybrid–is an infrastructure that provides workers with the tools they need to be successful and productive. This infrastructure includes technology, information, training, coaching, opportunity, and feedback. Sometimes, remote and hybrid workers need more or different resources than their on-site colleagues, and managers play a crucial role in building a culture that bestows equal value to in-person and virtual workers.
For the hybrid workplace to work, employees must be involved every step of the way in a process that is transparent, ongoing, and measurable. If your company is struggling in this area of the business, let’s chat. Keep in mind that company goals must also fit the employees’ personal growth in the big picture so as to keep the hybrid workforce motivated. We are here to help.
