7 Tips for Boosting Productivity in a Hybrid Work Environment
Today’s workforce is a melting pot of different types of jobs. Many people have more than one job, which will not change anytime soon. The rise of the gig economy and the proliferation of flexible work options have only exacerbated the problem. Companies can no longer afford to operate in a siloed fashion; they need to adopt a more collaborative and inclusive mindset if they want to remain competitive in today’s marketplace.
A hybrid work environment is one way to accomplish that without completely restructuring your company. It’s a flexible arrangement that blends the perks of a traditional 9-to-5 workday with the professional and personal advancement opportunities that come with working from home.
The hybrid work model is here to stay. However, the question of productivity is something that often arises. When you have a workforce working part-time from the office and the rest from a remote location, you can be forgiven for thinking you will be sacrificing productivity. However, handled correctly, this needn’t be the case. You need to know how best to approach hybrid working to get maximum benefit. These tips can help you boost productivity regardless of where your employees are working.
Define what successful hybrid working means to you and your company
Before you can start to boost productivity, you need to know what it means in your organization. For example, does this mean a hybrid workday where some employees work from the office and others from home? Some people may think that hiring remote workers will decrease productivity, but you can increase productivity with the right system in place. Remote workers are more passionate about their jobs if they feel like they’ve been given the opportunity for innovation and autonomy.
So before you make any decisions about your company’s hybrid working model, define what successful hybrid working means to you and your company.
Assess where each employee works the best
The first step in boosting productivity is assessing where each employee works the best.
Some people will be more productive at their desks with a clear separation from noise and distractions. For others, it’s not so simple. The key is to figure out what type of environment will provide your employees with the best work environment and create an individualized plan.
Take time now to assess your own employees’ strengths and weaknesses when it comes to remaining productive and figure out what type of environment they need to be successful. You may find that some employees are more effective at home, while others require being at the office to get anything done. You might also find that one person needs complete silence while another needs music to stay focused on their task.
Align hybrid working schedules
How you structure your hybrid working schedule will depend on the demands of your company, but there are a few key points to bear in mind. Firstly, there should be some overlap between employees in the office and those working remotely. For example, one or two staff members might work from home during their lunch break so they can still contribute to tasks that need inputting or discussing, while others work from home full-time. This way, you’re not losing out on valuable time when all your staff is unavailable.
Secondly, it’s essential to ensure that employees who work remotely understand what is going on at the office to remain productive and up-to-date with any developments. Some companies implement an ‘agile’ system where managers share updates with remote workers every day or week, depending on the business need. Finally, communicate set expectations for each role to minimize the likelihood of mistakes due to miscommunication.
Use software, tools, and automation
Expectations for productivity in a hybrid environment will be different from those in a traditional office setting. Your employees should be able to handle the same amount of work just like any other worker, only remotely. One way to increase productivity is through using advanced software, tools, and automation from a server company such as Go-Global.
Many of today’s best-selling enterprise applications have remote access and viewing options available even with a free trial or demo version. You can also use tools like Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive to share files securely so that your employees are always up-to-date on the latest company documents.
Consider these options for how to boost productivity in a hybrid work environment:
-Automatic email management (using a tool like Boomerang)
-Automated tasks that don’t require human interaction (like Zapier)
-Integration tools that make it easier for team members to work together remotely
-Video conferencing to keep in touch with colleagues and clients digitally
-Virtual meetings so employees can meet with each other without being in the same room.
Find out the benefits of using workforce management software to help you stay on track with everyone and improve communication between remote or hybrid teams.
Allow for frequent feedback and work on it.
Working remotely means there is less opportunity for spontaneous feedback – if something needs to be addressed immediately, there may not be enough time before it becomes an issue. The person who reports the issue may not know what you’re working on in the same way they would if you were in the office full time. They can’t walk over to your desk and ask what’s going on or stop by your workspace for a quick question.
Make sure you are allowing for feedback in a way that allows any issues to be raised and addressed quickly to avoid confusion. If employees have ideas on how something can be done differently or what isn’t working then allowing them to feel comfortable enough to raise this and know it will be taken care of can increase employee satisfaction and help to improve productivity.
Use KPIs for success.
You need to identify what success means for your business. This may not be the same for all companies. It might mean increasing sales; for others, it could reduce customer complaints. Defining these metrics and setting measurable targets is essential before developing an action plan.
Once you know what success looks like individually, you can shape your team’s work plan accordingly. You can also measure the success of any newly adopted initiatives by measuring their impact against these KPIs. For example, suppose you want to reduce customer complaints to increase your company’s perceived value. In that case, you need to identify where customer complaints happen most frequently and address those areas first. If they arise from a particular department or vendor, then that should be your focus rather than trying to tackle every complaint at once. Once you clearly understand what needs attention and how this will positively impact your KPIs, you can start implementing changes to reach these goals.
Work to maintain a good work and home life balance for everyone.
One of the most important aspects of a productive work environment is maintaining a clear line between work and home. A hybrid work environment can make it challenging to do this, but it’s not impossible.
Encourage employees to take breaks as needed, like going for a walk or making a phone call. This will help them stay refreshed and focused on the task at hand. The key is to be flexible when necessary and not insist that an employee stays at the office for hours without taking any time for themselves.
Consider letting employees work a shorter week on occasion to maintain that balance.
These days, many professionals are comfortable with the idea of working remotely, in the office, or a hybrid approach to working, especially millennials and Gen Z employees, and there are plenty of tools that make it possible—like Slack or Google Hangouts—to collaborate effectively with team members who are in-office or offsite. You need to be aware of what is happening with everyone to maintain standards and ensure productivity is being affected.
