Secrets of a Successful Hybrid Work Model

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Hybrid work has become common across industries. Research shows 60% of US employees worked from home in May 2020.

Even now, many teams are working remotely as the pandemic slowly dies down. No one is ready to go back to the office to work full hours.

Everybody wants a hybrid working model, which makes it easy to balance work and life. Additionally, employees can work with the same if not more productivity level from home.

As a result, most businesses are allowing employees to work under a flexible model. But how do you ensure your approach leads to success and fulfills your business objectives?

Determine the Roles Fit for Hybrid Work

Not all roles work out under the hybrid model. Some need physical attendance at the workplace, while others can be carried out from home.

For example, you can hire a Ruby developer and allow them to work from home. They will be able to perform their duties with the same efficiency as an office from their homes.

However, a warehouse manager may need to be present on the floor for at least a few days of the week.

Therefore, identify the roles that suit hybrid work. Additionally, identify those that need physical attendance.

Then refine your work model for the best outcome.

Ensure Optimum Communication

Communication can take a backseat when employees work from home. They miss out on face-to-face interaction and conversing with their peers at work.

Worst of all, lack of communication can take a toll on collaboration. Your projects might turn out to be inferior, with results below your expectations.

As a result, ensure your workforce has enough opportunities to communicate. We also suggest this to all our clients at Reintech for growth and success.

You can rely on a range of messaging apps and tools to help your employees stay in touch. The list includes Slack, WhatsApp, Discord, and more.

Additionally, you can arrange regular stand-ups and group events to improve intercommunication.

Allow Teams to Choose Their Hours

Not everyone may want to work the same hours under a hybrid working model. Additionally, employees may need separate time for collaboration and working individually.

As a result, you should stay flexible and let your staff choose their convenient working hours. However, consider the implications of time zone differences if you have employees across the borders.

Moreover, ensure everyone participates in group activities in spite of choosing their working hours. In addition, track their performance to make sure their output levels don’t dip.

You may need to step in and implement a more structured approach for low-performance employees.

 Show Empathy, Always

Staying away from the office can lead to the development of a sense of isolation. Additionally, a lack of group interactions can dampen the spirit of employees.

It is not a secret that the virtual world lacks empathy. Video conferences, virtual whiteboards, and collaboration tools can never create the same engagement experienced in real life.

As a result, it is necessary to be empathic towards your workforce, especially under a hybrid working model. You should constantly check in on your staff to make sure they are okay and productive.

Moreover, you can take several steps like:

• Get personal and engage your employees
• Share your own experiences and challenges
• Listen to your employees and collect their feedback
• Ask open-ended questions in meetings to encourage involvement
• Lead your teams with empathy

Set Clear Policies

Staying organized and being articulate have proven benefits. Therefore, you should set clear expectations and policies for hybrid work. It should lay down what the employees should do and how they should behave to fulfill your business objectives.

Additionally, be specific about things like hours for remote work and office work. You should also ensure your policies are well-documented and easily accessible. So, every employee should receive a copy of the policy in their email or messaging apps.

Empower Your Hybrid Workforce

A good employer provides all necessary resources to their employees to work productively. As a result, your approach should also be to empower your employees with the equipment and tools they need to work.

The list could include things like a laptop with a reliable internet connection. You may also provide resources like project management tools for your workforce. Generally, a hybrid workforce will need to rely on a range of digital solutions to perform their duties.

So, add them as users on your tools and register them for the right services.

Final Thoughts

Employees now want to stay flexible when it comes to working. The pandemic has also encouraged more companies to offer a hybrid working model. Therefore, you should not only allow your employees to work in a hybrid mode but also ensure its success. You can follow the tips we discussed to make sure your model is able to achieve its objectives.

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