The traditional image of a conventional workplace is no longer what it was. At first, changing health conditions allowed us to embrace the notion of remote work, then gradually it evolved into hybrid work environments that combine remote work and in-person work in the office.
After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Microsoft published the results of a study titled “Reformulating Work” in cooperation with other research centers. While reviewing future trends in the Saudi work environment, it stated that 92% of the leaders of major Saudi companies that have participated in the research surveys support the adoption of hybrid work. This is due to its flexibility and productivity, in addition to employee satisfaction.
Thamer Al-Harbi, head of Microsoft Arabia, stressed when publishing the study, that "the success of teamwork in a hybrid workplace goes beyond the idea of owning the appropriate technological tools, because it mainly depends on the creativity of individuals. When they are at their highest levels, they are able to exchange their ideas through brainstorming and collaborative workshops, which help companies come up with creative ideas,” he said, adding that “a successful team is known for its level of productivity, their trust in each other, and effective communication among them.”
This is not limited to the Kingdom alone. According to a survey conducted by (FlexJobs), 65% of employees prefer to continue working remotely, 31% are interested in working remotely every now and then, and only 4% want to return to working in the office full-time. In the same thread, Microsoft found that 61% of leaders are thriving under the remote work model. Perhaps, more significantly, as many as 40% of employees are considering leaving their employer, which means that for many companies, the hybrid office model is the only realistic option.
Important tips for running a hybrid business
Any new model requires a certain level of experimentation and innovation. Although not entirely new, hybrid work is thriving during a time of global challenges. If you’re unsure about the application of the hybrid work model in your business, here are some tips for managing a hybrid workplace:
1) Keep in mind that productivity is the most important factor. Most employees who work eight hours per day in the office do not actually work all those hours, since full attention and capacity to focus on work is unlikely to last for more than four hours.
2) Train employees to use sites and applications that enable effective remote team communication such as Zoom, Slack, Microsoft Teams and others. This allows everyone to share information and collaborate on projects online more efficiently, especially that the Kingdom has high cybersecurity levels to global standards.
3) Encourage teams to set common goals and share information readily in a seamless environment.
4) Encourage employees to express their needs and requirements to be able to perform at the highest level, whether it’s about the applications they need to have, work hours, work protocols, or the time-off they need to recharge.
5) Build trust between employees and management, and support capable employees with what they need in order to succeed.
6) Delegate project management roles to ensure that work progresses in a timely and efficient manner, and address issues and problems as and when they occur.
7) Bring humor and fun to online meetings to boost morale.
8) Clarity is key in hybrid work. Train your employees to communicate clearly, and encourage them when writing emails or making a presentation to be transparent and leave no room for ambiguous interpretation.
In summary, hybrid work is experimental in nature, and is essentially based on flexibility. Each manager and team has a choice as to which elements best fit their hybrid work and should be given the license to exercise creativity in a way that enhances their productivity and wellbeing.
