Remote work seems to be the future of business. When companies work remotely, employees stay productive on their own time and in their preferred location. Meanwhile, virtual communication tools like email and web conferencing help coworkers and managers stay connected.
However, the remote-only model doesn’t work for many businesses. Retail, construction, medical, legal, and other industries need to offer some goods or services in person, and abandoning a physical, communal office may not be realistic. For these companies, there’s the hybrid workplace model.
A hybrid workplace is one that combines working in person with working remotely. The split may be role-specific, dividing remote and in-person work by job title; or, employees may split their team between a company office and their home office.
However you decide to split up work, a hybrid business model can be hugely beneficial for your business. As with other business decisions, though, smart management is key to success. Managing a remote team and office staff at once can be challenging, but the following tips can make the hybrid workplace model work for your business.
Embrace Change
Whether you’re building a new business or transitioning an existing business to a hybrid model, don’t let fear get in the way of change. Leaders should research the best strategies for their companies, including dramatic steps like changing your entire work model. How can you adapt your company to the digital age and stay relevant? Take note of companies like Yahoo and Sears that have largely failed to adapt to changing times.
If you’re considering going hybrid, embrace this innovation but stay grounded. Lead the transition with the understanding that there may be some missteps or challenges along the way. Consider reading reference guides to build a business/work model that’s ideal for your industry and ensures you stay competitive. In other words: do your research and invest time in planning a realistic hybrid workplace model; then, proceed with caution--but by all means, proceed.
Reduce Costs, Not Quality
Many business leaders are jumping at the chance to build--or transition to--a hybrid business model to reduce costs. When you send employees to work at home, you reduce costs associated with working in an office, including technology, utilities, and more. (Another common expense of working in an office is productivity time loss, thanks in part to workplace chatter, fluorescent light exhaustion, and other distractions).
However, designing a hybrid workplace model depends on one major rule: never cut costs at the expense of quality of work. If a hybrid model ushers in a sudden decline in the quality of products or services, your company is going in the wrong direction. Your clients and customers should never be nostalgic for a time before you went hybrid.
Prioritize Making Ancillary Roles Remote
How do you avoid cutting quality when you cut office hours? Be smart about who you send to work remotely. Hybrid workplace models are productive when they’re smart about who needs to work face-to-face and who can reasonably work from their home office.
If you want to make a smooth transition to hybrid work, start by sending home people who don’t need to have face-to-face contact with clients or perform physical labor (stocking shelves, running a register, performing maintenance, etc.).
For example, do you run a medical office? Obviously, doctors, nurses and receptionists need to work directly with patients. However, ancillary roles like appointment scheduling, billing, and verifying patient insurance can be done from any location with a telephone, a computer, and some privacy--a home office would be perfect. Consider transitioning these roles to remote.
Some businesses like graphic design and accounting, meanwhile, may not need to conduct any business in person. In these industries, client interaction and products you offer can be 100% virtual. However, you may prefer to summon employees into an office a few days a week for management purposes.
Design a Leadership Strategy
How do you want to manage your team? Are you content with leading remotely? Stay connected with your employees via email, web conferencing, and other communication platforms. It can be difficult to micromanage remote employees, but studies have shown that employees may be more productive in their home office anyway.
You may prefer to lead design a hybrid workplace model that prioritizes in-office management. If so, that means conducting meetings, training seminars, and team building events in person. However, there are online solutions for these management events that may be just as effective.
Consider researching books and other reference materials, too. You may need to train yourself to be a hybrid staff manager. How do you avoid showing favor toward in-office employees? How do you keep tabs on remote employees to keep them engaged, productive, and motivated? How do you set reasonable deadlines? Seek out expertise that can help you build a successful leadership strategy.
Invest in Team Building
Studies have shown that over half of US workers would prefer to spend the majority of their work week at home. Add that higher level of employee satisfaction to the cost reduction when you go hybrid, and you have a successful business model.
Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Leading a productive and motivated staff depends on building a strong team dynamic. This is where team building events come in. What is team building? This is the practice of investing time in employee socials, including events that build open communication, creativity, conflict resolution, and other important workplace skills.
Team building helps employees feel like they’re part of an inclusive workplace culture. When employees get to know their co-workers (and managers), they feel more accountable to one another, build trust, and work harder to accomplish team goals. Invest in team building events to bridge the gap between in-person and remote employees, keep remote employees engaged with their team, and even improve employee retention rates. The benefits are numerous.
Try out TriviaHub today to plan effective team building events for your hybrid workplace. Stay connected with your entire team, encourage team bonding, and more. Just as you design a hybrid workplace to suit your specific business needs, you can customize TriviaHub events for your workplace culture.