The new normal: hybrid working

As organisations explore what the new normal will look like, including the modern workplace, the challenge is not just around productivity but also maintaining company culture, team cohesion and open collaboration.

For organisations striving to have an innovative, collaborative and flexible culture, having employees in and out of the office will be more of a challenge. Additionally, the office is also seen as a social hub, where organic conversations happen.

Organisations are keen to take advantage of the productivity gains seen recently, whilst employees are seeking a better work-life balance, where possible. Embracing how the working environment needs to change, supporting a shift towards agility, flexibility is key to reimagining work and keeping employees on board.

To achieve these gains, employers need to ensure that the basics are in place to digitally enable remote working and collaboration, while taking care to create working norms that foster social cohesion.

To enable long term hybrid models organisations will need to:

1. Reimagine how the office space is used, and what technology is required. Understanding when on-site work is better compared with remote interaction or independent work. It’s worth surveying employees to understand their needs and requirements such as breakout areas where they can meet and talk informally.
2. Adopt new ways of working that help build a strong culture, cohesion, and trust even when many employees are working remotely. With that being said, organisations will need to consider bringing colleagues together in person at least a couple of times per year to facilitate more connectivity and deepen relationships.
3. Technology will be required to allow greater remote collaboration, supported by planned, organised and unbiased processes. Many current IT systems in existence were largely designed for a predominantly office-bound workforce. Permanent hybrid working models will require organisations to re-evaluate their technology stack. Tools that better incorporate and leverage digital technologies, automation and AI.

But no matter the structure or working arrangements, the key focus remains speed, agility and working collaboratively. Ensuring a sense of comradery, unity and psychological safety that comes naturally when people are sat together every day in the same location is ported across to teams that are now working in a more hybrid way. Working to ensure that the “human element” isn’t lost with teams like celebrating success, welcoming fun and encouraging openness and vulnerability.

For further information, including details on how to accelerate growth using scenario planning and forecasting, download our full whitepaper.

Check out the next two areas, why analytics needs to be the heart of your business and creating value with external data, in our upcoming blog, so keep an eye on our social channels where we’ll be publishing details.