Using the Hybrid Hype Cycle to Improve Task Environment Fit

According to a recent study, employees who reported that they felt that their current working space matches the needs of the tasks they are working on experience "task environment fit." Workers who are able to achieve this fit report having autonomy over:

• Location: I can choose where to perform work
• Work-Method: I have the freedome to determine the method and procedures to complete my work.
• Decision: I have the freedom to make decisions

Task environment fit has shown significantly improved outcomes in many areas including:

Improved:

• Absorption: "I was immersed in my work."
• Proficiency: "I have fulfilled all my tasks."
• Satisfaction: "I am satisfied with my job."

Reduced:

• Distress: "I am depressed or anxious."

The analysis of the data has further shown, that location autonomy (allowing employees to choose where they perform work) is one of the biggest levers organizations can use to enable employees to better fit their environment to the tasks they are trying to achieve, and thus achieve all the positive outcomes outlined.

Gartner 's 2023 Hype Cycle for Hybrid Work can offer clients actionable insights on innovation profiles that can be used to improve task environment fit. Here are a few that jumped out at me as the most important to achieving successful "fit."

Empathy Based Management

“Manager quality” was the No. 2 reason IT employees left their organization in 1Q23Managers are recognizing that applying office-centric and impersonal approaches in a hybrid work environment isn’t improving employee productivity or retention levels.

Developing empathy based managers by creating safe-to-fail learning environments where managers can practice both having vulnerable conversations and leading with questions.

Workplace Experience Apps

Workplace experience (WEX) apps support positive employee office experiences by simplifying visit planning, reserving shared and personal spaces, and identifying available amenities. Seventy-seven percent of workers want to be a part of planning how hybrid work is orchestrated.

Support meaningful and intentional use of the office environments by providing capabilities that help employees and managers coordinate "task environment fit."

Employee Journey Map

An employee journey map is a visual representation that follows the flow of events and presents, from the employee’s perspective, including highlights and challenges. Journey mapping identifies opportunities for improvement in the "task environment fit" that require closer alignment between siloed departments, such as facilities, human resources, and IT.

Practice developing journey maps and telling the “story” from the employee’s perspective by sharing the draft journey map with employees and including their feedback.

Intentional Collaboration

Intentional collaboration refers to an approach where teams think carefully about the modes of collaboration and understand which is best suited for the type of work they are doing and the type of individuals they are. Without intentionality, employees use the different modes in ways that uniquely suit them. As a result, employees on the same team may go into the office on different days which may paint hybrid work as ineffective rather than demonstrate the demand for intentionality.

Develop an organizational mindset of reciprocity by giving employees tools and guidance to improve the visibility of their work patterns. Build an environment of autonomy by embracing and championing teams to set their own behavioral norms for collaboration and optimize their microcultures.

Source: Task Environment Fit - University of Leeds

(Additional Gartner analysis by Marika Krausova)