Your guide to building efficient Hybrid Workplace Models

It’s no surprise that the work-from-home work structure skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Businesses had to come up with a solution to keep themselves going, and while back then, they turned to remote work as a last resort, now that isn’t really the case.

Companies have recognized the perks of remote work, especially when it comes to productivity and cost-effectiveness. They have chosen to tweak their traditional work structure to incorporate remote work as well.

It isn’t just businesses; people have settled into the rhythm of working from home. While the novelty of working from home has lifted after these ten months, people don’t want to let go of the WFH system entirely.

Several studies have shown that many would like WFH to be a part of their work structure even after the pandemic passes.

This is why more and more businesses are adopting a hybrid work model.

A hybrid work model encompasses the best of both worlds where employees have the freedom to work from home and their office premises.

In a recent global study, employees have stated that they would prefer to work 3 days a week in the office and 2 days from home.

In this blog we’ll tell you the best practices you can implement to build an efficient and agile hybrid workplace.

How to build an efficient hybrid work model?

Create a Plan

Planning is the first and the most crucial step for any decision-making process. Specify the goals and objectives for what you want to achieve.

Develop premises by anticipating the events that may occur. Analyze how you will accomplish your objectives and the course of action you must take to implement your plan.

Think long-term and focus on progress and sustainability by identifying action alternatives and creating a follow-up process.

Build flexibility into your plan of action because not everything will go according to your agenda, and you need to be ready to tackle any disruptions that come your way.

Prioritize Team Communication

The main hurdle with a hybrid work structure is ensuring that your in-office and remote workforce collaborate efficiently.

Communication may become fragmented because, with a hybrid work structure, work doesn’t happen for everyone at the same time.

Different messages require different formats. While instant messaging software applications like Slack are useful for sharing information, you may not always be able to avoid dealing with message overflow or fragmented discussions.

Tools like Microsoft Teams and Zoom are excellent for facilitating collaboration and communication within a hybrid workforce.

You can even create different collaborative spaces for different objectives with video conferencing.

Reshape your goals and objectives

You need to be not only productive but proactive in your decision-making to ensure your business survives the shift to a hybrid work structure.

There will be a significant shift in your company’s culture, and you need to adapt to this transition.

You need to be open-minded about the threats you can face and be flexible enough to reshape your company’s goals and objectives to align with your hybrid workforce.

Invest in new technology & infrastructure

Because of the pandemic, Automation and Artificial Intelligence have experienced an enormous push.

Managing the flexibility of the hybrid workplace implies investing in technological solutions.

Businesses are copiously investing in automating and optimizing their workflow, digitizing their data, and even redesigning their workspace, be it physical or virtual.

For high performing hybrid workplace models, building and investing in innovative technological tools is imperative.

Foster a ‘Connected Culture’

A Connected Culture is where every employee is valued and feels like they are a part of the team.

While staying connected during this era is very easy, it is equally easy to disconnect with the world emotionally.

While this is a contradiction, it is very accurate.

Stop your employees from isolating themselves. By fostering a connected culture, your employees develop a sense of belonging even during these stressful times.

Prioritize your team’s wellbeing

For any successful business, employee productivity is a primary factor. An organization reaches its utmost potential when it prioritizes its employees’ wellbeing.

It’s not just about how they function individually, but also about how your employees collaborate as a team.

Wellness programs and team-building sessions improve your team’s productivity and strengthen their corporate relationship.

Taking into account your hybrid workforce, we at Jambar Team Building can ensure your entire team can attend these team bonding sessions by conducting them virtually.

Train your Employees

Capable employees are an asset to any organization. The return on investment from training your team is a no brainer.

With the world advancing the way it is, it is imperative to ensure that your employees have the critical skills needed for future-proofing the company.

Such training and development programs improve your team’s productivity and boost their morale, and enhance the company’s reputation and profile.

It isn’t just about coaching them on the skills that are in demand in your industry but also training them on soft skills like communication and negotiation.

Include your employees in the process

Your transition from your current work structure to a hybrid work structure will have a greater chance of success if you include your employees in the journey and related discussions.

Instead of assuming what your employees want based on statistics on the internet, conduct employee surveys and create a customized plan that holds the best interest of the people working for you.

Communicate your plan with your employees; ensure they understand what is expected and how the workspace will function.

One silver lining about the pandemic is that it has allowed us to re-imagine how we function. Remember, you can’t transform your workplace in a matter of weeks or even months; it may take a year and sometimes more.

Hybrid work model is the future of work, and it’s your duty to give your business the time to evolve and adapt to the new work structure by planning efficiently.