Have you considered how WFA (working from anywhere) can make your business thrive?
Flexible working was making headway before the Covid lockdowns, but that fact that few had any option but to work from home has sped up our adaptation towards remote working. Employees and businesses are finding new ways to work, new ways to maintain the work-life balance and new ways to save money on costly premises. For businesses that can embrace these models, it can make sense. Alongside this, however, comes the fear of isolation, losing the sense of team and a reduction in output. But do we need to worry?
Studies have shown that embracing a hybrid workplace, where employees split their time between office and WFA (working from anywhere) can:
- Increase productivity
- Improve resilience
- Allow work life balance to flourish
- Improve connection
- Breed happiness
Allowing employees to choose what working environment suits them best, is key to creating a sense of empowerment within them, they can choose what space fits their mood for that day and their workload, they gain control, and they can really focus on their tasks. Some may prefer to be in the office and others may prefer the mix. If the tech is suitable then there is no reason why their workload cannot be fulfilled from multiple settings. Being more agile also opens the door to creating a more resilient workforce that are able to adapt and jump on a problem wherever they are.
When our employees feel that we respect their decisions and thought processes, their engagement to the business will naturally increase because they are heard and valued. With better engagement, comes greater purpose and this in turn creates collaboration in a more holistic way. This shared sense of connection encourages communication and knowledge sharing that is fluid and this assists the spirit of creativity. Teams are not made by putting people in a room together and hoping for the best, teams are made by creating connection and shared experiences and the experiences made outside of the office are just as valid as those created internally.
Removing the restrictions and barriers of the old-style office gives way to employees becoming more individual, trusting them to prioritise what is important to them and allowing them to be more balanced. When the balance of work and life is achieved, people are happier and less prone to mental health issues, their immune systems become stronger (meaning less sickness absence), and they feel more fulfilled. Given that our employees are the life source of our business, this makes perfect sense.
Of course, there are risks involved in this scenario, insufficient technology can mean that collaboration is prevented, employees could choose to isolate themselves, productivity could reduce. However, these are also problems faced within the office or if the employer has more than one office. Using reliable tech for chat, calls and document sharing will all help to create meaningful open channels for communication. Consistent face to face meet ups and group calls also give employees an anchor that they can hold onto if they feel themselves floating away. The advances in technology, sharing platforms and social media gives multiple opportunities for touching base, collaborating on documents in real time and checking in. The workplace atmosphere is always top down, and hybrid working is no exception. If management can show a healthy way of living and live the connection values then this will undoubtedly spread to the rest of the organisation.
To further mitigate risks, a strong set of policies around WFH, WFA and working in the office are essential. These will be the backbone of a successful hybrid environment and provide clarity for employees and set expectations for working practices. Managers will need to ensure that they encourage communication, and that they are trained to look for signs of disconnection, poor performance and low mood. Robust performance management and appraisal tools are also a must. Nobody can ever suggest that face to face meetings can be replaced by a phone call, but there is also the greatest potential for openness and communication in other ways.
Indeed, some may argue that having everyone back in the office is the way to create teams and keep output high, however, poor performance and isolation are just as common in an office as they are in hybrid working. Shaping a business model based on individuality when your business is able to work this way is so attractive to employees.
Covid created a lot of challenges for companies, but with challenge also comes opportunity and when we have an open mind to new ways of working, we can broaden our outlook and thrive.
If you need advice or support with any of the issues in this article do get in touch today.#
Author – Hayley Doody