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The coronavirus pandemic has turned the world of work upside down and led to an involuntary test of how well companies are set up for remote working. Based on the positive results, many suspected that employees would only work remotely in the future and predicted the end of the office. However, as we also suspected last year, the current trend is that the work of the future will be hybrid. So what does hybrid work mean? And how can companies best position themselves for the flexible working world?
Hybrid work refers to a form of work that is independent of time and place, in which employees no longer spend every day in the office, but work both in and out of the office. Working from home in the home office is just one possible alternative to the office. The café around the corner, co-working spaces, working from home abroad and any other place that enables productive work can also be used for work. The same applies to working hours. The classic 9-to-5 job is increasingly giving way to individual time management as part of hybrid work.
However, there is no concrete definition for the distribution of days of presence and days with remote work. Instead, the specific structure of hybrid work will vary from company to company or even between individual departments. This is because the degree of flexibility depends on various factors, such as the role in the company and the area of responsibility.
Hybrid work combines the advantages of office work and mobile work. If the necessary conditions are created in the company, hybrid work offers numerous advantages for employees, employers and society.
For a long time, it was assumed that employees in particular would benefit from flexible working models. However, the obligation to work from home showed that companies also benefit from the new approach.
Hybrid working also offers benefits for society as a whole. The elimination of commuting to the workplace and unnecessary business trips, which are sometimes made by domestic flights, not only saves time, nerves and money, but also reduces CO2 emissions. Hybrid working therefore makes an effective contribution to climate protection.
The option to work remotely also increases flexibility when choosing where to live. Skilled workers are no longer forced to move to metropolitan regions for qualified work, which leads to a greater social mix and consequently a strengthening of rural areas.
Despite all the opportunities that hybrid working offers, it also brings with it various challenges. Managers are therefore faced with the task of optimally positioning the company's culture and organization for digitalization.
Suitable processes and structures must ensure that employees are integrated into all processes regardless of where they work and have (timely) access to all information. This is the only way to ensure optimal collaboration between distributed teams. At the same time, all colleagues must be empowered for digital collaboration. After all, not every employee is already confident in using technology and tools.
Another challenge is maintaining the company and work culture. Many employees are already complaining that they feel less connected to their company and its vision due to permanent remote work. At the same time, team spirit declines when colleagues only see each other via video conferencing. This makes it all the more important for managers to promote and encourage communication within the company and between colleagues.
Last but not least, companies fear losing their innovative strength due to distributed working. While standard tasks can easily be completed from anywhere, regular exchanges, creative sessions or joint brainstorming sessions are essential for innovative ideas.
The transformation to a hybrid company is not a process that takes a few days or weeks. Rather, it is characterized by constant learning and regular adjustments. Nevertheless, companies should give some thought to a successful transformation and create the necessary conditions. So what does it take to master the challenges of hybrid working and benefit from all its advantages?
Decision-makers first need to be clear about the role that remote work should play in their own company. Is the primary goal to save costs or are the employees and their individual needs the focus of hybrid work?
Based on this vision, specific roles can be defined for employees that clearly define how many days they work remotely. Criteria for this are, for example
Accordingly, roles can be defined for individual departments, teams or even at employee level.
Successful collaboration between hybrid teams requires optimal equipment. Thanks to mobile devices such as laptops, smartphones and tablets, remote workers are able to work productively outside the office. Digital tools for project management and communication allow everyone involved to collaborate quickly and easily.
In contrast, the office will primarily serve as a social meeting place in the future and must enable employees to interact. As a result, office spaces need to be redesigned. Instead of individual workstations, lounge areas and numerous meeting options offer space for creative exchange. Modern office technology such as smartboards allow simultaneous collaboration with remote colleagues.
With the help of the Lendis OS, you can equip your employees optimally for hybrid work. You save yourself a lot of effort and have time for the important tasks.
Thanks to a modern technical infrastructure, everyone in the company has access to the information they need. All documents are stored in a central location and can be accessed from anywhere in the world via secure connections. Thanks to zero-touch hardware, employees are suitably equipped and ready to work in just a few minutes.
Companies that position themselves for the future of work on these different levels create the conditions for a successful transformation to a hybrid company.
Further information (external link): BCG Study - Remote Working and the Platform of the Future
From Remote Work to Office Planning - All Trends & Insights at a Glance.
