It’s no news that hybrid work is here to stay. It started as a necessity with the pandemic, but now, companies are beginning to transform their business models for hybrid working conditions.
Employees report higher satisfaction levels under the hybrid working model, and the future looks bright for hybrid work. However, it’s also necessary to think about how hybrid work will evolve into the future. Transforming from a traditional, office-based business approach into a hybrid working model with remote options is fairly new. Because the change has come instantly, businesses have faced certain difficulties in adjusting their business models.
Most of the companies continue their operations in their pre-pandemic offices, but a hybrid work model might require some changes.For businesses planning to establish a hybrid approach, it’s crucial to decide what the business model’s focus will center around. Will the company deploy an office-centered hybrid working model, a balanced office and remote work environment, or a remote-oriented climate? To answer these questions, certain aspects must be considered.
Choosing the right model
To choose the right fit for the company, the relevant industry must be prioritized. An office might be the center of operations in fields such as construction, medicine, or law, because such fields include types of work that require employees to be present in the office. Building a hybrid work model that gives weight to the office might be the correct option for such companies. On the other hand, most corporate size businesses consist of jobs that can be performed in a balanced manner. While specific processes need to be completed in an office environment, individual workloads might be suitable for remote work conditions. Incorporating a balanced hybrid mechanism might work pretty well for such business models. And some businesses can establish a remote-oriented hybrid working model as most of their workload consists of individual performances. Creative jobs are more suitable with fully remote, or remote-based hybrid work. It can be attractive for new talents.If business models can design the accurate model for their company, they can be the pioneers in the future of hybrid work.
Adapting to asynchronous work
One of the most distinctive aspects of hybrid work is asynchronous working.
Traditionally, business models heavily relied on synchronous work, which was thought to be the most effective way of ensuring productivity. However, time has shown that hybrid work might be as productive, if not better. Therefore, companies must reevaluate their business models and design one that can maintain asynchronous work. We are coming from the meeting mentality, which means that essential aspects of businesses are carried on through meetings.
Managers attempt to organize team meetings for various situations, such as drawing a roadmap for their team, evaluating the output, or keeping track of projects. And most of these meetings used to be held in the office. But with the hybrid work model, that too has changed. So, it’s a question of how employees can sustain the meeting mentality under hybrid working conditions as it might become increasingly difficult to bring together a team.
One way to bypass this issue is to use video conferencing. Businesses can easily organize team meetings through software like OctaMeet and keep the company structure.
However, if companies like to persevere through transforming the business environment, they need to change the meeting mentality. For an effective hybrid work model, employees need to be left alone during their remote times, and the number of meetings should be decreased. Projects should be defined clearly to avoid the abundance of meetings. Also, trust should be the key to becoming a team. Managers should consider various methods instead of organizing meetings to motivate employees.
Redesigning the office
The office space is not somewhere where employees only commute to do their jobs. It’s the place where company culture evolves and nurtures. That’s where people connect with their colleagues and commit to the company. But a hybrid work model might shift the office’s role in a different direction in the future. Although decisions regarding the office work depend on a business model, one thing is for sure that it will not remain the same. In hybrid work, employees seek out the best conditions to perform their jobs.
Be it working from home, in a café, or a park, employees will create their personal environments to keep their motivation up. In this sense, offices should also be redesigned for increased employee satisfaction and enhanced employee performance. The overall concept might shift from a dull, traditional place to a joyful environment that allows employees to keep their personal spaces while creating a sense of society. Most of the space that was used for office rooms and meeting areas can be converted into mutual work areas.
It’s important to remember that hybrid work takes its basis from employees’ freedom while not losing the concept of the workplace. Another thing to consider is becoming an attractive talent acquisition center. New generations value their freedom and motivation more, and a warm, welcoming workplace might be what they need. Instead of breaking down its employees based on experience and hierarchy, an all-inclusive office environment might convince new talents to apply to the company. It’s also possible to use offices as consumer-friendly workplaces. Businesses can experience first-hand communication with their consumers by creating social areas. With this, consumers get a chance to experience the company in person and might develop higher brand commitment in a friendly workplace. Also, businesses can bring together their inside and outside stakeholders in one place, which definitely will boost their prestige. To conclude, the hybrid work model is taking solid steps to become the future of work. And there are key points that companies need to consider adapting to the future.
- Defining the suitable hybrid work model for their company.
- Developing new business strategies that are suitable for asynchronous work conditions.
- Redesigning office areas to fit with hybrid work model.
