Transition to a hybrid work model: definition and tips

On 19 March 2022, countries like Germany ended the obligation to work from home, which had been introduced because of Corona. Nevertheless the Covid-19 pandemic continues and so does the debate surrounding which type of work is better: remote or in-person. We hear you–they both have their pros and cons. But what if we told you that you could have both? Hybrid work combines the flexibility of a remote job with the rich communication and collaboration of in-person work. Inspired by these benefits, many companies implement these new models. So, let’s discuss how you can easily transition your company to this future work model!

Hybrid Work Definition

Hybrid work is a model that allows employees to do their jobs both remotely, in the office or from somewhere else. Companies that embrace this model provide online resources for their team to work from anywhere but also encourage in-office collaboration when possible. It’s like having the best of both worlds!

The prominence of more flexible work models was exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which made remote jobs a necessity for most businesses. However, as we have slowly been able to institute more safety measures, such as testing and vaccination, some companies want to resume meeting in-person. This has led to an increase in hybrid work models across the globe. Have you heard from our Covid19-screening tool? It supports you to keep a healthy workplace and more.

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 A survey of global companies in 2022 revealed that already 76% of these companies made the transition to hybrid work. 

Hybrid work can mean different things for different companies. For some, it may mean having a primarily remote team that only comes into the office when in-person collaboration is needed. For others, it may mean having a primarily in-office team that allows for working remotely while traveling or when unexpected circumstances arise. 

We at deskbird live hybrid work by having an international team that works from different parts of the world - working across different time zones. Some employees are the only ones working from their locale while others can meet in co-working spaces in their respective cities. 

4 Tips for a Smooth Transition

While many businesses are choosing to transition to a hybrid work model, not all of them are doing it smoothly. A survey of global companies found that: “63% of respondents claim that their companies have not made any significant changes to their workplaces to adapt it to this new way of working”

Having a team that is both remote and in-person provides endless possibilities, but it also requires a great deal of organization and coordination. So, let’s get into some ways your company can smoothly transition into a hybrid work model, whether you are a remote-first business or one that wants to scale-down your office spaces. 

1. Listen to Your Employees

Employee centricity is key. No matter what phase your business is in, there is nothing more important than a happy team that feels valued and heard. When making any transition that will directly affect the organization and the lives of its members, it is crucial to involve them in the decision-making process. Instead of making top-down decisions, use a democratic form of leadership that lends itself to feedback. Consult your team members and ask them where they would like more flexibility or when they believe in-personal collaboration is critical.

Understanding the preferences and needs of your employees will make deciding on a flexible model easier and more well-received by the organization. Naturally, approaching such a transition democratically will help ensure that your new hybrid model will mirror the existing company culture and the needs of your workers. 

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deskbird’s approach is people-centric and so is our  app.  With our data analytics tool, we enable you to track office usage to help create an employee centric workplace. 

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2. Establish Trust Within Your Team 

Transitioning from in-person work to remote work, especially, requires establishing trust within your teams. While remote work allows for greater independence, it also means trusting the job will be completed efficiently without micromanagement.

For teams that were primarily in-person, this can be a challenge. However, there are ways of ensuring productivity that communicate to your employees that you can count on them while working remotely.

For example, measure productivity through goal-achievement rather than by time spent working. As we know, someone can spend hours working but not achieve anything. Instead, allow employees the freedom to choose how long to spend on a certain task, as long as they are meeting their goals. This flexibility will also increase efficiency as each individual can allocate their time in a way that is appropriate for them. Additionally, by allowing each person to build their own schedule, you are showing them that you trust them, which contributes to a better company culture. 

3. Facilitate Communication 

One major concern managers and business leaders have when transitioning to a remote-work model is losing the richness of in-person communication. While hybrid work encourages meeting in-person, which helps alleviate the asynchronicity of online interactions, it is important for businesses to facilitate more meaningful communication while working remotely. 

First, business leaders must approach meetings in a new way as many of them will be happening though video conferencing. As many of us might have experienced while working from home, it is easy to stop paying attention while in an online meeting. We can see our co-workers dozing off or attempting to complete other tasks during the meeting. This simply would not be happening if the meetings were taking place in-person. Therefore, greater facilitation is needed so that everyone can contribute and feels that they have the space to do so.

Additionally, it is important to re-humanize online meetings and allow for small talk at virtual coffee dates and catch ups which would naturally happen in an office environment but often gets neglected online. Tools such as donut can help create a virtual workspace with a human touch. If you want to do this in a more structured way, you can set a time during each meeting to speak about non-work related topics or catch-up with your team through check-in questions. 

Let’s not forget that hybrid work means that your team will also have in-person office time which can be used for deepening connections. That is what’s great about hybrid teams! You don’t lose the in-person connection and interaction that we all crave. 

4. Pick The Right Tools

One of the best ways to ease your transition to a hybrid work model is by using the right online tools. Whether it is using a new project management software, like Clickup, or an office-wide communication platform, like Slack, these tools were created to facilitate remote collaboration.

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With deskbird you will also find the best of all worlds - our desk booking app is easy to integrate with existing softwares like Slack, MS Teams and more. 

deskbird’s desk booking software also allows office managers and employees to book desks in offices and co-working spaces when in-person work needs to take place. Especially helpful for companies that are downsizing their office space, the desk booking software tracks how often people come into the office which allows for future space allocation and helps to organize in-person meetings and workdays.  

Going hybrid can transform your business for the better, from increasing efficiency to improving employee satisfaction and retention. However, changing to a flexible work model presents its challenges. To ensure a smooth transition, be sure to involve your employees in the process and listen to their needs. Trust that your team will get the work done and focus on goal-setting and clear communication. And with help of remote work tools, such as the deskbird desk booking software, your hybrid office will be up and running as if nothing ever changed! 

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➡️ Do you want to test our hybrid work solution for free? Get in touch and book your demo today!