How would you design the perfect balance for your team between working from home and office work to maximize your productivity and well-being?
Introduction to the Blog Post Series
Welcome to our new blog post series, where we explore the exciting changes and challenges of the post-pandemic world of work. In the coming weeks, we will dive deep into the world of hybrid teams, offering valuable insights, practical tips, and inspiring case studies.
In this series, you will learn how companies around the world are responding to new working conditions, which strategies have proven effective, and how you can benefit from these developments yourself. From the optimal design of hybrid workplaces to new communication methods and team-building activities – we cover everything you need to know to succeed in the modern workplace.
Stay tuned and join us on this exciting journey through the post-pandemic work culture. Let’s discover together how we can not only survive the new work models but truly rock them!
Peter F. Drucker, the management guru, predicted back in 1992 that a giant transformation occurs every few hundred years. Now, after the pandemic, we are experiencing just such a phase. The COVID-19 crisis has shown that changes, which had been gradually taking shape, suddenly became reality at lightning speed.
The era of working from home arrived faster than expected. While we initially struggled with technology and isolation, virtual meetings and working in pajamas have now become part of everyday life. But what does this mean for the future? Companies worldwide have developed various strategies to meet the challenges of hybrid work. Companies like Google and Facebook have introduced flexible models where employees can choose whether to work in the office or from home. In Germany, BMW is experimenting with a mix of office and home office days. Even in Japan, where a strong culture of physical presence exists, hybrid models are being explored.
Hybrid working presents both challenges and advantages. On one side are communication issues and technical difficulties. Who hasn’t experienced the frustration of a Wi-Fi outage in the middle of an important video conference? On the other side, we benefit from the flexibility and the opportunity to hire talent worldwide. Instead of sitting in traffic, we enjoy our coffee in the home office and save costs on office rent.
During the pandemic, we gained important insights. We realized that it is indeed possible to work efficiently and effectively from home and other locations, whether virtually or in a hybrid setup. At the same time, we became aware of how important personal contact with colleagues is. Therefore, many of us want to go to the office from time to time. It has also become clear that people’s needs for these two qualities differ – some prefer the flexibility of working from home, while others value direct interaction in the office.
But how can this new way of working be successfully implemented? Communication is key. Companies need to establish clear guidelines for meetings and information exchange. Technical equipment is also crucial – every employee should have access to the necessary tools and platforms. Virtual team building helps strengthen team spirit and maintain company culture. And last but not least: Trust in employees and flexibility in work organization are essential.
According to a study by Deloitte, the pandemic has shown that “the crisis offers a unique opportunity to shape a new way of working that combines the best of people and technology” (Deloitte, 2021). A central element is the concept of “Human-Centered Design,” where the work environment is designed to optimally support the needs of employees.
Another Deloitte survey found that 68 percent of executives plan to maintain the hybrid work model because it increases productivity and allows employees to find a better work-life balance. The same survey shows that more than half of employees worldwide are considering changing jobs if they are not offered flexibility regarding the workplace.
Hybrid working is not a temporary trend. It is the future. Companies that adapt to these new conditions will build a productive and satisfied workforce. It is time to embrace the opportunities of the hybrid world of work and be creative.
Additional Sources and Quotes
-
- The Future of Work Post Covid-19 – Deloitte (2021)
- Digital Workplaces and the Hybrid Work Model – Deloitte (2021)
- The Future of Work After COVID-19 – Deloitte Insights (2021)
Stay tuned for the upcoming posts in our series, where we will focus on specific topics and practical solutions!
How would you design the perfect balance between working from home and office work to maximize your productivity and well-being? What is your next step?
We look forward to your comments.