Hybrid working strategy: no one-size-fits-all
Hybrid work (the blending of in-office and remote work) is here to stay and don't we know it! Talent is everywhere, but to acquire and retain top talent you have to learn how to flex your adaptability muscle. Let’s take Basecamp, the online collaboration app, as an example. They have successfully worked remotely for over 20 years (they even wrote a book about it). The major benefits touted include the freedom for employees to approach their work environment however suits them best as well as consensus on an improved work-life balance. The secret: that the way they got to this place was a highly customized process and journey that related closely to the nuances of the business model they operate.
The human is core to the solution
There is no prefabricated cookie-cutter model for hybrid working structures for businesses. In fact, that’s exactly how the industrial revolution model brought us to this place. It was a homogenized office model copy-pasted across industries. Refreshingly, the human is today core to the ideal solution because we can now finally prove scientifically that this kind of focus fosters the connection, innovation and efficiency all businesses crave. The key variables in the creation of a hybrid strategy are based on the type of work to be done, the purpose of the company, and the needs and wants of the employees. Therefore, the key is to explore, ask and rethink by involving every member of the organization in re-structuring and re-orientating for a new future of work and level of business success.
The office space as a cultural center
It is important to note that offices will continue to be an important social anchor, and that many organizations have already found this to be true and have taken that into consideration. In the near future the physical workspace will become more of a cultural center, a place where employees can connect, innovate and ideate. They will be re-designed to serve that purpose through a mix of collaborative, informal spaces and spaces for dedicated and focused work. The office will also become increasingly inter-generationally inclusive, offering new and improved services and solutions for actual human needs (e.g day care for your children as well as your parents). Yes, that future is not so far away. Creating a culture of pride and belonging starts with creating an engaging employee experience that is focused not just on employee health and wellbeing, but on that of the communities and constellations that we are inextricably a part of.
Figure out what makes sense for your organization
As a first step in carving your hybrid strategy, you need to ask yourself as a company where you see yourself in 3, 5 or 10 years from now. There needs to be a consensus on where you are moving and a feeling that everyone is on the same page. That will then help you understand why and if you want employees back in the office. Is it congruent with the larger vision of the company? Are you taking a limited view and can a short-term discomfort in terms of reorganizing for the new reality be tolerable in the face of that? In fact, in a report published by McKinsey & Company, it was found that the finance, management and professional services industries have the highest potential for remote work, meaning that they lose the least potential productivity in the shift (e.g. 76-86% effective potential for the finance industry).
Take a trialed-and-tested approach to your journey to a successful hybrid model
Second, it’s essential to put yourself in the shoes of your employees and think about the reasons they would want to go back to the office, or not. A great way to do this is to take time to create exploratory groups within the organization with different constellations to begin assessing what the pros and cons are for different setups and what works best for everyone involved. Without taking an intentional approach to re-organization and re-imagining processes your organization will be left behind in what is now a race to acclimatize to a new world that is here to stay. Every organization is in charge of driving this change based on their unique components therefore a highly personalized approach. Factors such as flexibility, wellbeing and ethics are now expected by all generations in your workforce to be addressed, and are not just a luxury.
The eye of the storm has passed but it seems the pandemic is here to stay for the near future. I predict that the year 2022 will bring us a great opportunity to reflect on how we have been working, how we want to do it from now on, and understand deeply that the word inclusion - in all its nuances - is the building block for a transformational work experience.
If you are interested in accelerating your organizations hybrid and holistic strategies, please get in touch. Space Your Place works with large and small organizations on personalized training to fast-track the design and integration of a successful hybrid strategy.