Skills to have to be successful in a hybrid workplace

As the job market recovers, the future of work has also gone through a sea change and is now being defined by flexible work arrangements. As per a report by EY, 79% of companies intend to make “moderate to extensive hybrid work changes” due to an overwhelming demand for flexible work from employees. As many as 90% of the employees have demanded greater flexibility in where and how they work. As a larger number of people join the workforce and search for new jobs, flexible work has become one of the top priorities for the modern job seeker. 

However, the current situation is far from perfect. 

A 2021 survey from Monster.com (Now Foundit.com), a popular job forum, found that 86% of workers feel their professional growth has stalled as a result of the pandemic and about 54% of workers fear they don't have the skills needed to succeed in the new normal. Another global study found that 80% of people leaders found the hybrid working environment to be exhausting for employees resulting in a poor work/life balance. What could be the reason for this?  

Multiple studies show that when the world moved to remote work in 2020, average working hours increased. A reason for this could be chalked down to hybrid work setups creating disparate employee experiences. One person’s remote setup can vary vastly from someone else's and because most communication systems are multi-device and multi-platform, which require expertise to operate, the equity of experience is not guaranteed. This consequently results in a waste of time thus creating a frustrating experience for everyone involved. Secondly, once the meeting starts, it is often that one side is delivering content while the other is silent, which brings forth the lack of interaction and collaborative tools. This results in creating a poor experience and might even result in information falling through the cracks due to the lack of tools that capture the minutia of a meeting. Subsequently, next interactions on similar topics could result in repetition which drags down productivity.  

However, to counter such issues, here are some skills that would make for a successful hybrid working environment 

Greater focus on online security 

A recent report found that 95% of cybersecurity breaches were due to human error. Therefore, training employees on cybersecurity is not just important, it is vital for an organization’s survival. The need of the hour is the adoption of user-friendly solutions that can be easily implemented and understood. Training programs that simulate scenarios catering to the distributed workforce, courses that address the threat of information flowing in and out of the office leaking, and the various types of attacks should provide for a well-rounded, upskilled workforce. 

Dynamic and effective communication 

The advent of technologies such as Unified Communications as a Service (UcaaS) and Virtual Contact Centres have integrated the functionalities of phone, IM, chat, video conferencing, contact centre functions, reporting and analytics, etc., are key in enabling companies of all sizes to benefit from secure, future-proofed, enterprise-grade, fully integrated communications solutions. To align with the needs of today’s flexible, hybrid workforce, companies must proactively train and upskill employees in dynamic communication, collaboration, and support solutions, which will play a critical role for businesses to meet the challenges of a hybrid work economy. 

Reimagining leadership in a hybrid world 

While there’s no one-size-fits-all model for a hybrid workforce or team, leaders must balance differing employee preferences to ensure continued productivity and collaboration. The only way leaders can set the stage in ensuring all employees are empowered is through a seamless IT experience. This humanises a rapidly digitised workplace, resulting in employees to be more fulfilled who are provided with the bandwidth to fulfil their duties. Leaders that do not proactively enhance the digital employee experience as part of the business strategy stand to face increased costs, reduced security, and heightened organizational friction that will lead to inefficiency. 

Having a shared culture 

As a hybrid workforce will never be in the same location at the same time, the organisation can leverage cloud-based tools that can be accessed from any location.  Conducting team meetings over video conferencing platforms and maintaining regular communication through messaging apps are important for fostering an environment of shared creative thinking. For example, a virtual whiteboard can help teams collaborate during brainstorming sessions. Having a shared culture, team dynamics and qualities like empathy go a long way in creating effective hybrid teams. 

Nishant Rajawat

---

Nishant Rajawat is the CEO & Founder of Bird AI.