The Magic Behind a Hybrid Workplace

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The COVID19 pandemic and the lockdowns following created a culture shift that has accelerated the need for hybrid work environments. A requirement for flexibility has become an issue for employers and large companies in the long run. In 2022, the global level of employee disengagement at work is at 80%. 80% of the people employed in organizations do not feel connected to what they do for 8 hours a day.?

Organizational Network Analysis provides data about potential collaborative networks, employee productivity can increase by 10-15% thanks to ONA, and organizations can achieve 20-30% higher employee engagement on critical change initiatives.

The younger generation demands companies that have hybrid workspaces and provides appropriate perks. This will allow the company to save on office space, and also make use of today’s technology to increase productivity. If companies do not offer flexible working hours or remote work possibilities, they might lose their top talent to other firms. These firms provide an environment that meets the new criteria of employees.

Do you prefer watching videos? Watch my How to make the Shift to a Hybrid Workplace successful? video to find out more.

Asking the wrong questions

I prepared a quick video for you that summarizes where most companies go wrong when it comes to shifting to a hybrid workplace.

Thinking about these questions mentioned in my video will help you create an operational strategy. The most important challenge is to figure out how your team, with different responsibilities and tasks, can work at its optimum efficiency considering the needs of the individuals on the team whilst also defining the role of the office in your company's culture.

How has a hybrid workplace affected the culture of companies?

The past couple of years has changed the way companies interact. In-person communication is less frequent and we have found that people have a harder time building connections when they don't have that kind of contact. We believe virtual meetings are not an ideal place to show emotions and make relationships. Social learning has been declining, jeopardizing the sense of belonging and camaraderie that people find within teams. In the absence of these rituals and symbols, it will take longer for new ones to evolve in an online environment.

The result is that there are now multiple micro-cultures in your organization. They were created due to the pandemic, and hybrid working. Everyone has their own working style and rhythm, and there is a lack of connection with any social space.

WHERE DO WE STAND WITH THE HYBRID MODEL? IS THERE A GOLDEN RATIO? DOES HYBRID FIT TO ORGANIZATIONS? Read my article on “HOW CAN ORGANIZATIONAL NETWORK ANALYSIS (ONA) SUPPORT THE SHIFT TO A HYBRID WORKING MODEL?”?

In short, informal discussions have been replaced by more formal discussions. This is where a hybrid workplace can bring about an opportunity that is simultaneously appropriate for groups in the office and for leaders. Leaders need to become more aware that they need to establish and stabilize a unified company culture. They need to think about common values they wish to strengthen. This will inevitably lead to a clear strategy on how (and indeed where) people can share these new norms and values, as well as how these can affect how work goes throughout the entire organization.

Leaders are facing a pressing question about how to keep up in the era of new technologies that improve productivity and make working remotely possible. Do you need help with such issues? Feel free to book a slot in my calendar for an open discussion.

So, I suppose you wonder about the magic behind a hybrid workplace…

What if I told you that you have “secret agents” in your organization who can speed up change by 15%? 4% of all aligned employees can reach 70% of the overall staff. They can also increase employee engagement by 20-30%.

With the help of Organizational Network Analysis and organizational data, you can communicate change more effectively, plan office and remote work smartly, and define the role of communication in your organization. 10-15% of communication costs can be reduced by working with influencers tasked with promoting change.

“83% of employees think that a hybrid work model is currently the best option.”?

Leaders of a successful organization need to build networks of trust and must rely on external networks and internal collaboration to be successful in the face of complexity. ONA will offer insight into your team and data.

"One of the greatest advantages of ONA is that you can communicate these changes more effectively, plan remote and office presence smartly, and redefine the role of the office based on collaboration patterns provided by data-driven and evidence-based methods."? András Vicsek

Do you wish to find out more? Check out our blog on Hybrid Workplace, New ways of Working, or Remote Workforce!

Thank you for joining me for this edition of Connected Humans. Tell us about your experiences when it comes to hybrid working! Share them in the comments!

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