Many employers still do not trust their employees to do their best work unless they are physically present in the office. However, while managers may be struggling to adjust to our new hybrid world, this perception is far from accurate.
According to global research, greater flexibility from remote and hybrid working often results in a significant increase in productivity. Nonetheless, some businesses are reinstituting an office-only policy.
Employers may be dealing with the aftermath of the last few years and hoping that returning to work will result in a post-pandemic productivity boost.
However, given that hybrid workers have higher morale, greater creativity, and better collaboration (compared to pre-pandemic levels), this could be a big step in the wrong direction.
Big Brother will never be popular
Some companies have increased employee monitoring in order to track performance. However, this is frequently perceived as a Big Brother tactic that has the opposite effect – a decrease in productivity, a lack of trust, demoralized teams, and a greater sense of ‘us and them’.
All businesses must assess their performance and determine which metrics provide the most insight into productivity. However, this must be done in a way that does not make employees feel like cogs in a machine.
So what’s the answer?
There is some straightforward advice for creating a productive and successful hybrid environment:
- Encourage people to work in the way that is most comfortable for them.
- Figure out how to measure performance without making people feel like they’re being watched all the time.
- Use automation to free up your team’s creativity.
- And make sure that everyone has the tools and technology they need to do their job properly. This could include selecting the appropriate devices, utilizing communication tools that facilitate collaboration, and making the appropriate connectivity choices.
We can help with all of this.
So if you’re having trouble adjusting to a hybrid world, get in touch – we’re here to help.