In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, hybrid working has become more than just a buzzword; it’s a reality. Companies and employees alike have had to adapt to this new way of working, blending in-office and remote work to create a flexible and sustainable future. But how do we optimise its success? As the era of hybrid work continues to evolve, one key aspect stands out as crucial for its success: monitoring performance.
The Power of Hybrid Working
Hybrid work offers a host of advantages, both for businesses and their workforce. It provides employees with flexibility and work-life balance, while allowing companies to tap into a broader pool of talent. However, to truly harness these benefits, it’s essential to have a monitoring system in place that is fair, inclusive, and ultimately productive.
Monitoring performance in a hybrid work environment isn’t about micromanaging or creating a culture of distrust; it’s about ensuring that employees are equipped to do their best work, regardless of their location.
Monitor, Don’t Micromanage
It’s true, hybrid working’s flexibility challenges traditional monitoring, as physical presence doesn’t equate to productivity, making it harder to assess. It can be tempting to start micromanaging your hybrid team, to ensure that targets are met. However, this isn’t a sustainable approach, in fact you’re more likely to lose talent by opting for this management style. Fortunately, there are ways you can monitor your teams performance without the added stress of micromanaging.
How to Get Hybrid Working Right:
Monitoring a hybrid team involves setting clear expectations, tracking progress, and providing support to ensure employees thrive while allowing them the autonomy to manage their work effectively. This balanced approach promotes trust and performance in the evolving world of work. So, let’s take a deeper look at how we can implement effective monitoring practices:
Alignment of Goals: Team targets provide a clear and unified direction for the entire team, ensuring that all members are working toward the same objectives. This alignment helps maintain focus and prevents fragmentation in the team’s efforts.
Focus and Inclusion: In hybrid teams it can be easy to fall into the trap of proximity bias. This occurs when in-office team members are given more attention, opportunities, or recognition simply because they are physically present. It’s crucial to promote an inclusive culture valuing all team members equally, regardless of their location, countering bias effectively
Schedule One-to-Ones: One-to-one meetings are crucial in hybrid work environments. They foster personal connections, encourage open communication, and aid in feedback, development, and problem-solving. They also promote well-being, career growth, and accountability, contributing to employee retention and overall organisational success.
These are just a few ways you can monitor your hybrid teams performance, for more detail on the four essential approaches needed to optimise performance download our FREE guide. Are you ready to transform the way you monitor your hybrid team?
External Solutions
An article by Forbes outlined the challenge leaders are continuing to face in finding new ways to collaborate with their team, to ensure maintained employee engagement. This is where the importance of the development of leadership skills is especially relevant in the world of hybrid working. The article states that finding external solutions in consultants and development programmes are the way forward. Hybrid working is the new normal for so many companies, therefore it’s important to invest in the development of the team as a whole, to ensure longevity and organisational success.
The shift towards hybrid working is undoubtedly here to stay, and it’s vital that leaders get it right! Going hybrid offers a flexible work model with numerous benefits, including increased productivity, enhanced work-life balance, and broader access to talent. Organisations have the opportunity to create an inclusive, flexible, and successful hybrid work environment that benefits both the company and its workforce.
To learn more about optimising success within you hybrid workforce, our team are ready to talk to you!
