Holiday happenings hindered by hybrid

Holiday get togethers.???

It is a time-honored tradition and something I have enjoyed every year in the 20+ years I’ve been working.?

Each year December has seen a mix of holiday parties, small group socials, and catch-ups with friends and colleagues past and present.??And this year???Pretty much nothing.??

That is partially me – I remain pretty COVID cautious and still limit most social activities to outdoor venues.??However, where I have tried to coordinate the annual get together it has been problematic.?

Typically, I’ll get together somewhere near work early evening, or arrange a later soiree closer to home.??This year, with many operating in a hybrid work format, I’ve found the days I was in the office others were remote, and vice versa.??As a result, it has been impossible to get everyone in the same place at the right time.?

This is, I believe, reflective of a wider issue that we all face: hybrid is hard.??

Many of us are adopting hybrid working as we make our return to office plans. In doing so we are heading down a path that is, inherently, more difficult than either extreme.?

With everyone in the same place it is easier to coordinate collaborative activities. This applies whether that place is an office, or the Zoomisphere.?A blend of both creates additional headaches for those trying to synchronize schedules and orchestrate output.??

Don’t just take my word for it. Brett Hautop, head of workplace at LinkedIn – the champions of connectivity – recently noted:?

“Hybrid is most definitely tougher than completely in person or completely remote. It takes a lot more forethought, and none of us, or anybody else at any company, has figured out exactly how it’s going to work.”

Given the current state of the world, it appears inevitable that hybrid working is part of our future. As a result, adopt approaches that provide clarity on who needs to be where, when. This likely requires being more deliberate about what interactions happen in person, and accepting ad hoc meetings may remain on Zoom for many.??

Setting clear guidelines and establishing norms will help – for example, Zillow’s “one Zoom, all Zoom” rule. Accepting that hybrid is hard, requiring additional investment in planning and more communication is a good starting point.??

That includes social activities. I’ve now learned my lesson. Planning 2022 holiday get togethers will start in September. Can’t miss out two years in a row.??

Happy holiday everyone!?