The modern working world knows many concepts: From working 100% remotely from home to the classic return to the office, everything is possible. But which working model suits your company best? In this blog post, we clarify the advantages of hybrid work compared to other models. Find out what hybrid work is all about and how it can combine the best of both worlds when correctly executed.
The conflict
In a world that is continuously evolving, it's only natural that our ways of working are also subject to change. Now, however, the critical question for companies is: which work model fits our culture, our team, and our goals best?
The trend towards 100% remote working does not suit everyone, as the Corona pandemic has shown. At some point, many people feel like the walls at home are closing in, the lack of social contacts leads to feelings of isolation, and teamwork often falls by the wayside. But a strict obligation to be present in the office also appears to be outdated: Surveys show that flexible working models are a key decision-making factor for the majority when choosing a workplace.
Against this background, the concept of hybrid work has gained particular importance in the recent years. The topic has become so dominant, even Zoom, which as a company has been the embodiment of mobile working since the corona pandemic, has recently switched to hybrid work with mandatory office days, as BBC News reports.
In this article, we want to discuss what hybrid work actually means. What advantages and challenges does this model bring for companies and employees? And how can hybrid work be successfully implemented in practice?
Hybrid work - a definition
Hybrid Work combines the concept of working independently of location with being present in the office. In this way, the advantages of mobile working and the positive aspects of face-to-face work in the office environment are combined. This way of working allows employees to flexibly choose where they want to complete their work, depending on the task at hand and their personal preferences. This not only promotes more productive work, but also creates a work-life balance and opportunities for personal interaction. In this way, Hybrid Work can combine the positive aspects of both worlds.
The advantages of hybrid work
Productivity and satisfaction.
Hybrid Work makes it possible to work in the environment where you feel most productive. Whether that's your quiet home or the collaborative office. Not only does this lead to higher employee satisfaction, but it can also increase work performance. A study conducted by the University of Birmingham found that nearly 60% of managers surveyed said that hybrid working increased the productivity of their employees. Increasing motivation through hybrid working was confirmed even more frequently.
Sustainability and efficiency.
Less presence in the office often also reduces operating costs, for example in energy usage or office supplies. In the long term, lower office usage can also lead to consideration of optimizing the office space. In addition to these economic savings, a hybrid working model can also make companies more environmentally sustainable. In addition to lower energy consumption in the office, emissions are also reduced through fewer commutes to the workplace and less frequent business travel.
Flexibility and family-friendliness.
Hybrid Work allows work to be organized in a way that best suits the individual's life rhythm. This results in an improved work-life balance. Hybrid Work makes it easier, for example, to be working even when sick children or relatives in need of care require you to be at home. Studies show that hybrid work has been found to improve family relationships.
Choosing the right model
Hybrid Work has no set rules. Therefore, to successfully implement hybrid work in your company, you need the right framework: Think about what goals your company wants to achieve through hybrid work and what form of working fits the needs of your employees. There are many options, but here are three possible models at a glance:
1. Individual day model
In this model, each team member selects personal, fixed home office days. This creates a high degree of individual flexibility, but at the same time also generates a higher degree of plannability than a spontaneous determination of the work location. This can be helpful, for example, when scheduling events on site at the office. The presence times in the office also promote team interaction, but only if the fixed office days of the team members also overlap.
2. Fixed team days in the office
Alternatively, it can be decided to have fixed days in the week when the whole team works together in the office. This can avoid the problem of team members always missing each other during their presence times. This can facilitate the coordination of team activities and foster a sense of community among employees. However, this model is somewhat less flexible when it comes to personal commitments.
3. Project-based work location
In this model, team members adjust their work location to match the requirements of the current task. For example, all team members might collaborate in the office during a shared project period, and then once the team phase of the project is complete, they return to remote mode. This approach allows employees to focus on specific projects and collaborate efficiently.
Successfully implementing hybrid work
After establishing the suitable framework, there are still a few things to consider in order to make hybrid work successful in your company in the long run. Here are a few tips for sustainable success with hybrid work:
Keep everyone in the loop.
If everyone works from here to there, there can potentially be gaps in communication. That's why companies should make sure that information reaches all team members equally - whether they work in the office or remotely. This requires structured internal communication channels.
Maintain the team spirit.
Physical separation can affect team dynamics. With the right strategies, you can actively counteract this: For example, how about unofficial virtual meetings such as a joint digital lunch date or a fixed regular team day at the office where everyone is on site? Small words and gestures of appreciation should also not be lost in digital work.
Use the right tools.
Working from anywhere requires the right digital infrastructure. Established communication channels, mobile cloud storage and digital project management tools play an important role. This can ensure that everyone, whether in the office or at home, has access to all resources and information. But flexible work in the office also needs to be coordinated, for example through workplace booking software. In this way, transparency can be created and office utilization can be managed. In this blogpost, we present the benefits and various positive sideeffects of a desk booking software. One example for a simple booking solution is the desk-sharing tool Buuky.
Conclusion
The working world is constantly changing and Hybrid Work has emerged as a pioneering model. Hybrid work enables a balance between flexibility and collaboration, while also bringing many benefits in terms of productivity and efficiency. For a successful implementation of a hybrid work model, it is important to create clear structures and not leave things like communication and team spirit to chance. One should not underestimate the change in corporate culture and in the way of collaboration and leadership.
At the same time, digital tools are an important help in organizing flexible working. Buuky is a suitable tool for uncomplicated workspace booking on site in the office. Learn more now and test it for free!
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