The True Essence Of Hybrid: In-Person Work To Inspire; Remote Work To Get Things Done

Enterprise Tech The True Essence Of Hybrid: In-Person Work To Inspire; Remote Work To Get Things Done Joe McKendrick Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I track how technology innovations move markets and careers Following New! Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories. Got it! Nov 5, 2022, 07:00am EDT | Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Together we think, separately we create getty When it comes to ideation and innovation, nothing beats in-person workplaces.

However, when it’s time for actual implementation of these ideas, employees should be free to work anywhere they see as most fruitful — be it in an onsite office or home office. Remote or hybrid work has proven to be a winning approach, relates Amy Freshman , senior director of global human resources at ADP. She shares her observations on how to get the most out of this new, highly distributed workplace: Is remote or hybrid work proving to be an effective way to get things done? How did it compare to on-site workplaces? Freshman: Let’s start with collaboration and building relationships — nothing beats face-to-face meetings, full body language, moving around a room together to whiteboard and ideate.

In-person is often the best for the social aspect of getting work done together. Then think about getting things done with a focus on independent or heads-down work — ‘I need to push through this report or I need to write this article. ’ While inspiration may come from interactions with colleagues, virtually or in-person, the work itself is often best done solo remote in many cases, more efficient in a quiet setting.

Pre-pandemic, workers would go to find a small conference room or huddle room to break away from the chatter to get this type of work done; in today’s world where available, they can opt for a remote day to focus. What about the productivity of remote work? The notion of presence equals productivity has long been a misnomer. Just because a worker is there early to turn the office lights on or stays late to shut them off does not mean they are the most productive person on the team.

It is critical that there are measurables and key performance indicators in place for the job, the function, and the role itself all location-agnostic. When thinking about whether your remote worker is working during the day, ask yourself how you knew when they were in the office. What are the KPIs and deliverables? That is how you know any worker is in fact working.

Can remote workers advance up the ranks at the same pace as on-site employees? What special considerations are needed? Freshman: In many organizations, as you advance in your leadership career, it may require more in-person presence. Interacting with your teams in person, being there to lead and engage, is an important part of the role. MORE FOR YOU Why The Rock’s Social Media Muscle Made Him Hollywood’s Highest-Paid Actor The Climate Crisis Is A Miracle Elon Musk’s Personal Mouthpiece, Raging Arctic Wildfires—And A Simple Emissions Solution For Coal Plants However, the more remote or hybrid the entire company is, the more likely that leadership roles can follow suit and thrive in that environment.

I would challenge leaders to consider the purpose of coming to the office. There needs to be a value-add for the employees and the leaders. The type of role or function is another big consideration.

Companies should review and assess on a regular basis to help determine what mix of remote versus in-person days is right today and continue to reflect in the future as teams and needs evolve. Is remote or hybrid work now a permanent feature of workplaces of the 2020s? Freshman: Unequivocally yes. The pandemic brought on the largest remote work experiment in the history of the working world and the findings are in: remote work works.

Companies are realizing that many jobs can be done remotely — perhaps more than they thought — at least part of the work week. For them, this is about providing flexibility and autonomy to their associates, and an offer of hybrid work can be the deal breaker in vying for future top candidates in the job market. Most workers will look for, and in some cases demand, some level of hybrid work in their current or next role.

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