In response to the recent pandemic and lockdown, there have been significant shifts in how we work with technological innovations advancing remote work. At the same time, hybrid teams promote balances for working efficiently in in-person workplaces. As organizations adjust from a remote working model to a hybrid model that entails the combination of remote and in-office work, questions such as what employees to bring back, when to bring them back, and how this can be done has risen. The overarching goal of this is the maximization of organizational productivity while ensuring the health safety of employees.
Although studies such as a survey by Radware has shown that most employees’ productivity remained at optimum level or even increased while working remotely, many employees have admitted to facing many challenges with remote working. Challenges such as maintaining work-life balance and reduced opportunities to collaborate and build connections with colleagues. It is, therefore, the job of organizational leaders and business owners to use available pre-and post-COVID data about their employees to make decisions that will ensure the creation of the most efficient and exciting hybrid workforce. This arrangement requires detailed planning and communication among the different departments and teams in an organization. If you are faced with this decision, here are some tips to consider when strategizing to boost productivity within your organization:
Understand where your employees work best
The lockdown made it possible for many organizations to test and determine what departments and roles maintained and improved their productivity while working remotely. The data from this period can be compared to data from pre-COVID times to determine which departments or employees would benefit the most from in-person and collaborative work against remote work. Deciding where and how your team works best is a great point to start from to improve the organization’s productivity.
Communicate the changes
Nothing hampers organizational productivity, like inadequate or unclear communication. The success of a hybrid workforce lies in clear communication about where and how the different teams will work, their roles and responsibilities, schedules of team meetings, check-ins and 1-on-1s. Clear communication of all necessary information is important for the elimination of confusion which can derail productivity.
Utilize Technology
Technological innovations abound and should be taken advantage of to ease the communication and collaboration between remote and in-office teams to aid productivity. From video conferencing and collaborative scheduling platforms to email and performance management software, numerous technology solutions can promote knowledge sharing, minimize the gap between in-office and remote teams to prevent siloes in the organization.
Provide Constant Support and Feedback
Every employee will react to the new normal of work differently. Therefore, it is pertinent that organizational leaders and business owners provide the necessary support and feedback, encouraging employees and improving their work. You need to make it clear to your team(s) that you can give space and support to help them do their job well. This will help you support your employees’ mental health, promote an inclusive hybrid workforce and build trust and engagement, increasing productivity.
Prioritize Team Building Activities
Just because some employees work remotely while others do not mean that team-building activities should be relegated to the bottom of the priority list, it is important to create socially engaging activities for all employees; whether it be hosting all-day tea breaks for in-office employees or using software to match remote employees up for one-on-one social meetings. Set aside some time for remote and in-person employees and teams so that they feel included.
At the end of all of these, remember to constantly reflect on the different results of these considerations to continuously adjust your policies and improve the work conditions of your employees. You can duplicate this by encouraging a growth mindset among employees and managers to analyze what is working and improve consistently. This will aid the creation of an organizational culture that supports a hybrid workforce, whether or not this is a short-term plan or a long-term commitment.
Ebere Akadiri
Ebere Akadiri is an accomplished entrepreneur and an advocate for women in leadership. Her passion to inspire others to achieve their goals drove her to found Rise and Lead Women along with her co-founder, Poonam Barua. Their mission is to inspire women to take the lead in closing the gender gap in workplaces and in business.
