Moving forward into a work culture transformed by COVID-19, we are now entering another phase: hybrid work models. As more companies are implementing hybrid approaches to remote and in-office work, business leaders are faced with the unique challenge of ensuring the safety of their employees while maintaining efficiency in day-to-day operations.

Understanding Hybrid Teams

In a hybrid team, employees alternate between working in the office and working remotely. They are able to choose when and where they would like to work based on their job duties and comfort level within the current climate.

Hybrid teams are the best example of companies offering flexibility for their employees to “work from anywhere” as we navigate the ever-changing business landscape. That said, the following considerations will ensure the shift to hybrid work models goes smoothly.

Keys to Successful Hybrid Work Models

Develop a Strategy: Look ahead, plan for the future, and try to anticipate any issues that may impact your business. Additionally, it is important to leave room for maneuvering so the business can remain agile in any event. Forward-looking leadership should extend to all facets of a business, and adopting a hybrid work model is no different. Here are some questions to ask to help inform your strategic decisions:

• How do my employees collaborate?
• How does our business handle customer service?
• Will moving to the cloud improve our efficiency?
• How are we prepared to utilize cloud technologies when it is time to adopt the technology?

Following the answers to these questions, implement your findings toward actionable results.

Create a System of Employee Support: Your primary role as a business leader is to support your employees. When uncertainty is at an all-time high, spending extra time to reassure individuals in your network and extend kindness can make a huge difference. Therefore, it is critical to adjust to an office culture that fosters connection and camaraderie while staying safe. While this must be analyzed through the unique lens of your business’s needs, certain tenets will always prevail:

• Open up the channel of communication between in-office and remote workers. This way both can feel equally included as a part of the work team.
• Ask questions. What are their concerns? How are they handling the workload? How have their personal circumstances changed over time? You may have done this in the early stages of the pandemic, but it is important to continue this habit. With so much uncertainty, circumstances are constantly changing.
• Beyond asking the right questions, be sure you are listening. Show employees that you are willing to work with them and keep their best interests in mind.

Utilize Communications Solutions: No matter the industry you are in, one thing is clear: the only way to achieve and remain competitively relevant is to have an optimized communications system set in place. While effective communication is a crucial component of any successful business, today it relies heavily on dependable technology.

In fact, streamlined communications solutions have become a non-negotiable requirement for the success of many businesses as office workflow continues to rapidly change. That said, whether you are fully remote or using a hybrid work model, VOIP Networks is here with customized solutions to meet your business needs.