The pandemic has made businesses face unpredictable challenges and the competition is getting intense as the economy opens. To survive in today’s market, companies need to understand the customers’ needs and bring new innovative ideas to the market. It can only be possible when employees work in a new and improved workplace.
The future of work is hybrid. Organizations that understand that workplaces should be designed for people and the resiliency of the organizations will grow and succeed.
Strategies to build a hybrid workplace
Here are four approaches to consider when building a hybrid workplace.
Combine the digital and physical experience
Bridging the gap between employees working remotely and from the office is a huge challenge. Hybrid work means that there will always be some employees present in the office and some working remotely. It is natural for remote employees to feel disconnected, especially when activities like brainstorming are done. This bridge can be bridged by integrating technology and physical spaces with engagement, equity, and ease.
Balance teamwork and individual work
An office is a place for collaboration and full-time work-from-home employees experience reduced collaboration time. Leaders should focus on improving collaboration time and increasing spaces for hybrid and office collaboration. The right balance has to be achieved between teamwork and individual work. This means that employees should be able to collaborate and perform individual tasks effectively. If the collaboration time is more than individual time then there will be brainstorming and employees won’t be able to think and share their innovative ideas. The balance should be in a way that employees can come together to discuss ideas and then have their individual spaces to work on the assigned tasks.
Transform from fixed to fluid
Physical office spaces are meant for permanent working models. But to survive in the current market businesses need to constantly change their ways and adopt new measures of working. The hybrid workplace models require less permanent space and promote fluidity in the workplace which can help accommodate changes easier and faster. This helps in encouraging innovation and has an overall positive effect on the workplace culture.
Flip the functions of open and closed spaces
It is time to let go of the conventional working ways and adopt innovative changes. Traditionally, individual workstations are in open spaces and meetings are held in enclosed spaces or rooms. When people start to make a comeback to the office as the pandemic eases, this system will flip. The meetings will be held in more open spaces with flexible boundaries as it can provide more space and easily accommodate changes. On the other hand, individual work will be done in enclosed spaces to promote acoustical and visual privacy so the employees can have better focus.
Video meetings will happen everywhere, and screens present in all spaces can help employees stay connected and collaborate when required.
