The pandemic has changed the way businesses function. A whole new approach towards life seems to have developed in the last two years. Businesses that managed to survive the blow created by the pandemic were able to do so only because they adapted to the changing environment and working style. Professional life got a whole new meaning when multiple lockdowns forced everyone to spend more time at home. Basically, the realization on the importance of work life balance and mental health took precedence.
With many claiming that the hybrid work environment is here to stay, many organizations are considering the possibility of following it. The last two years saw a surge in employees working from home with a tremendous increase in productivity. Even employees found that their lives got a lot smoother in the hybrid work environment. In fact, more employees are looking for flexibility of time and considering a hybrid working space. Dependra Mathur of Infosys BPM says that trust is important in a hybrid work culture.
However, being successful in a hybrid work environment does not require any particular skill. As the Senior Vice President of IBM puts it, it is important for organisations to focus beyond “where” people work from. Manu Wadhwa of Sony Pictures Networks India strongly suggests doing things differently to make it more engaging. Sony made sure the family members of the employees also participated in a company anniversary celebration that was conducted virtually during the pandemic.
Here are a few points to keep in mind to streamline the process for everyone:
i) Clear communication
Being reachable and communicative is paramount for thriving in a hybrid workspace. Effective communication is critical as face-to-face interaction is limited and there is more room for miscommunication and misinterpretation through calls and text messages. Communication, whether on phone or text messages or e mails need to be well crafted and delivered to avoid confusion. The ease of functioning in a hybrid workspace comes with its own set of challenges. Proper interpretation is as important as clear communication and being attentive is critical. Keeping the team members updated about an individual’s day to day activities streamlines the work for the entire team as every team member is aware of the activities that each person is involved in. This makes the functioning of the team more effective.
ii) Technical Assistance
In an office space, any technical issue will be fixed by the support team immediately. In a hybrid environment when not all team members are together in office, technical issues may continue to persist. Hence individuals need to equip themselves with basic technical knowledge to troubleshoot minor glitches. The same goes with internet connection, power supply and the network quality of the location an employee is connecting from. Things that may seem trivial, in fact, contributes greatly towards an employee’s overall productivity. Managing internet connection, system issues and other technical difficulties while working remotely need to be taken into consideration to make overall work productive.
Buffer, headquartered in San Francisco, has been working remotely since 2015. They credit their success towards its efficient use of remote working tools.
iii) Have clear boundaries
Working remotely means the time at which work starts and ends need to be well defined. Since the face-to-face time is limited, employees may be tempted to work longer hours to prove their dedication. Many a time, personal time is underrated and employees are expected to be available at all times. The line between personal and professional time is prone to get blurred if proper boundaries are not in place. Placing boundaries and exercising such boundaries are imperative to being successful in a hybrid work environment.
iv) Include “me-time”
It is crucial to take proper breaks in between work to avoid burnout. If working from home, the environment can be full of distractions or it could cause boredom since there is no change of place at all throughout the day. Unlike normal work days, the time consumed in commuting to work is saved while working remotely. It is upon the individual to decide what to do with that extra time, whether to use it for work or for themselves. Ultimately it is a personal choice as to what works best for each individual. Taking breaks at regular intervals is so underrated and this needs extra emphasis as there is no interaction with colleagues or anyone outside of the family throughout the day. Any small break from work is likely to cause guilt at least for some. The pandemic has managed to ease this to a certain extent, which is a good sign.
Encouraging employees to choose co working spaces occasionally can make the transition to hybrid work environment less overwhelming. Since the hybrid work environment concept is fairly new to many employers, there are chances for hiccups in its nascent stages of implementation. An open mind and welcoming attitude from both the employer and employees can go a long way. Yash Mahadik of Lupin Global says that they are still figuring out ways to establish an engaging hybrid work model.
A collaborative effort can definitely make things smoother and both the managers and employees can find themselves being successful in a hybrid work environment. Any roadblocks that may arise on the way need to be brought up and addressed at the right time. Although no particular skill is needed to be successful in such a workspace, managing a few commonly overlooked technicalities efficiently can help an individual thrive in a hybrid work environment.