Mastering the Art of Hybrid Work: Beyond Band-Aids to Sustainable Productivity
Productivity is a ubiquitous term that regularly reverberates throughout corporate hallways. However, it seems to possess an elusive definition that varies across individuals and organizations. A recent ClickUp survey reveals that over half of the 1,000 U.S. knowledge workers equate productivity with “the feeling of accomplishment.”
The indistinct understanding of productivity has prompted businesses to adopt temporary solutions or “productivity Band-Aids,” which, unfortunately, overlook the crux of the issue. To genuinely augment employee productivity, it’s essential to implement substantial changes that elevate company culture, engagement, and address the newly formed hybrid paradox.
Below, we delineate five strategies to boost productivity within your organization while considering the fluid boundary between work and home:
Clearly define productivity: A unified understanding of productivity across an organization is the first step towards boosting it. Leaders should establish and communicate clear goals and success metrics to their teams. The objectives of each worker should align with their team and the company. Understanding that business requirements can change, leaders should be open to adjusting goals as necessary to promote productivity. This approach also aligns with the concept of microproductivity developed at Microsoft, where tasks are broken down into microtasks, fitting into the fragmented and increasingly flexible workday of the modern worker.
Acknowledge good work: Encouraging an environment where workers are rewarded and recognized for their performance is integral. While many workers express a desire for monetary recognition, other forms of acknowledgment, like public praise or additional responsibilities, can also foster satisfaction. Recognizing good work has proven benefits, including increased employee engagement and reduced turnover costs, thereby serving as an investment in the productivity of your staff.
Facilitate effective communication: To optimize productivity, it’s advisable to decrease meeting frequency and advocate asynchronous communication. This approach permits employees to concentrate on pivotal tasks, and with an increasingly remote and hybrid workforce, asynchronous communication can be more practical. Encourage the usage of voice notes or short videos for communication, and let workers know they don’t need to respond instantly to every notification.
Promote transparency: Transparency within the organization is a crucial component of productivity. By favoring public channels over direct messages, managers can bolster transparency and trust within their teams, which can significantly enhance productivity. In addition, this kind of communication helps break down information silos.
Nurture a strong company culture: As the research on Microsoft’s “New Future of Work” initiative shows, it’s not enough to focus purely on outputs like emails sent or lines of code written. A robust company culture that factors in employee well-being, social connections, and collaboration is paramount for sustainable innovation. Regular meetings, both virtual and in-person, can increase awareness of company objectives and foster a team spirit. Celebrating achievements and victories can also enhance job satisfaction, which is closely tied to productivity.
The concept of coworking spaces fits into this newly defined productivity paradigm, allowing flexibility, promoting a sense of community, and fostering collaboration, thus embracing the advantages of both remote and office work. The hybrid nature of coworking spaces can also provide an environment conducive to managing the blurring line between work and home life.
In conclusion, to boost productivity, organizations must invest in a comprehensive employee experience, underpinned by a well-defined concept of productivity, effective communication, and a robust company culture. This approach is even more relevant in a world where the boundaries between work and home are increasingly blurred, and flexible working models are becoming the norm. These investments not only lead to happier, more fulfilled employees but also result in measurable benefits for the business.
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Sources : https://hbr.org/2021/09/lets-redefine-productivity-for-the-hybrid-era
