How to Ensure Hybrid Work Is Productive Work
It’s no secret that organizations have become more flexible and cooperative with their employees and staff members regarding where and when they are working. Now, they must be intentional with their choices and trade offs.
COVID-19 kickstarted the work from home cultural movement. Now, businesses are planning beyond the short term forecast and are preparing for what the future of work could look like in a post-pandemic world. Most recently, deciding on when to return to the office is a decision leaders are grappling with.
Historically, the office has been a place of congregation. Today, the office is a rather foreign concept. Both the place and time aspect of work have changed dramatically. Some people are working from home, others from coffee shops or satellite offices. Additionally, there is much greater flexibility around the time that people are fully engaged in work activity.
Many agile decision makers are designing new hybrid work blueprints that focus on place and time. The challenge is deciding how much flexibility is necessary to create the framework for when and where people do their jobs before it is abused or taken for granted.
Because these waters are relatively uncharted, there is no status quo or right way to approach the future work model. Some executives are allowing work from anywhere, others are requesting that employees return to the office tomorrow. Some are more flexible with time commitments and others expect a normal, 9-5 business day. Since remote work has become the new norm, companies have begun experimenting with compound approaches that maintain or increase productivity while applying empathy towards employees and how they operate.
One thing that remains constant across all companies navigating the workplace shift is their shared goal to boost and foster productivity. To build a successful hybrid for work arrangements, executives must create context for both place and time that promotes output rather than depleting it. This requires careful consideration for what elements of productivity are necessary for establishing a healthy work arrangement. Executives must understand what their staff will need in order to achieve the very best output.
Organizations all across the world will have to brainstorm new ways to boost energy, focus, cooperation, and communication to successfully achieve a hybrid for productive work. There is a variety of combinations of time and place that competent leaders will engage to produce a productive work environment. Leaders must be empathetic and open to listening to individual needs to develop creative solutions moving forward.