The world is changing every day. With those changes, discovering alternative ways to work without human contact due to the COVID pandemic is a discussion that most companies are all too familiar with. Upwork states that 1 in 4 Americans will be working remotely through 2021, which is over 26% of the workforce. This is predicted to be the same for 2022.
Increasing Productivity
In today’s world, having so many companies moving to remote work, what is happening with productivity and meeting deadlines for teams across the united states?
– A study by Stanford stated that productivity from working from home has increased by 13% over the last nine months. This increase is due to higher call times, fewer breaks and sick days.
– Within this same study, workers have also reported an improvement in their work satisfaction by 50% due to work-life balance and maintaining a more convenient, comfortable work environment.
– This productivity increase can be attributed to many different factors that employees attribute to their overall satisfaction and success. They stay organized and on schedule, commit to smaller but more intense work intervals, and are overall more comfortable with their workspace.
Increasing Culture
It is hard to promote a positive organizational culture when working in the office, but it can be even harder to create this environment virtually or in a hybrid world.
– Communication is critical when promoting the culture you want for your organization. Various platforms can ensure the whole team is on the same page and promoting a social, workable environment. Leaders need to create a culture of trust to increase culture. Respect and empathy with coworkers will go a long way when fostering this culture. Promoting and leading by this culture will strengthen the team and increase the trust within the group.
– There is not a manual for managing teams who work from home or have hybrid work schedules. Promoting and establishing a culture with this criterion is new for many businesses, and mistakes will be made. Do not be afraid to make these. These are “learn as you go” moments, and there is no suitable model for one team. It is up to the leader to figure this out and have guidance from their organization when needed.
– Increase virtual meetings within teams and encourage team-building exercises. Use technology as your advantage and increase the cultural awareness within your team.
Conclusion
A new way of working is here for companies, and it is most likely going to stay. Companies are learning as they go when establishing productivity and culture within their workforce. In many cases, what works for one group, will not work for another. A leader’s job is to ensure their team is engaged and challenged when out of the office. This will promote a healthy and prosperous atmosphere to the group and lead a successful hybrid team.