As the world continues to adjust to the new normal brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, hybrid work has become an increasingly popular option for businesses and team members. This approach combines remote work and on-site work, normally split across a working week for example 2 days in the office and 3 days from home. This allows employees to work from anywhere while maintaining a connection with their colleagues and the business.
Navigating the New Normal
If you’re a small to large business owner and are considering implementing hybrid work in your team, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, it’s important to understand why the push for hybrid work is happening. For many organisations, it’s a response to the pandemic and the need to provide employees with flexibility while maintaining productivity. For others, it’s a way to attract and retain top talent who are seeking a better work-life balance.
Establishing Clear Guidelines for Hybrid Work
Regardless of the reason, the successful implementation of hybrid work requires a well-thought-out strategy. Here are some key steps to consider:
- Assess your organisation’s readiness: Before implementing hybrid work, it’s important to evaluate whether your business has the necessary infrastructure, technology, software and policies in place to support it. For instance, does your organisation have the right software/solutions when it comes to remote access to company data and applications, communication tools, and security protocol.
- Establish clear guidelines: Hybrid work requires clear guidelines and expectations for employees. This includes guidelines for when and where work can be done, how to communicate with colleagues, and how to ensure productivity and accountability.
- Encourage communication: Communication is key to successful hybrid working. Hybrid working, to begin with, can be a challenge to certain team members and personality types, however with the right communication and encouragement this can quickly be resolved. This might include regular check-ins between employees and their managers and opportunities for team members to connect and collaborate through internal groups or meeting rooms.
- Create a culture of trust: Hybrid work requires a culture of trust in your whole team, however with this level of trust we have found employees feel empowered to work independently and are just as driven to deliver results. This still requires clear communication, accountability, and a focus on results rather than time spent in the office.
- Continuously evaluate and adjust: Hybrid work is a new approach, and it’s important to continuously evaluate and adjust your strategy based on feedback and results.
By following these steps and taking a thoughtful approach to hybrid work, your organisation can successfully implement this approach and reap the benefits of a more flexible and productive workforce. For more information or advice feel free to contact a member of our team here.
