It seems as though citywide COVID-19 lockdowns are well and truly behind us, but yet even today not all businesses have returned to their office spaces or workplaces full-time. Instead, an increasing number of business owners are implementing what has become known as a “hybrid work model”. This involves employees having in-office days and WFH (working from home) days throughout the workweek.
With more employees working from home more often, businesses are able to significantly reduce their operating costs. With that said, both employers and employees alike also recognise the need for face-to-face time with colleagues and clients, which has brought about this new approach.
Let’s take a look at some useful tips to help you transition from working from home to a hybrid work model successfully.
Choose The Right Laptop
If you are going to be working from home for some of the week and in the office for the rest of the week, you will naturally need a laptop that is durable, compact, lightweight and that will give you the performance you need to remain productive. The Apple MacBook is one of the most popular solutions for anyone working remotely or even anybody who may find themselves commuting to the office regularly, as it offers the perfect balance between performance and portability. With the right laptop in your arsenal, you can ensure that you will be able to get started on whatever you are working on without missing a beat.
Communication Is Paramount
Having the right organisational policies and tools in place when it comes to internal and external communications is crucial for any business to experience longevity and ongoing success. When you are dividing your time between working from home and at the office, however, effective communication becomes even more important.
There is always going to be a touch less consistency or poorer communication with a remote or hybrid work model than if the entire staff are working together under the same roof day-in, day-out. In order to ensure everyone is always on the same page and up-to-date with what is going on in the business, it’s vital that the right communication tools and procedures are in place from the outset.
Project management software can work wonders for many organisations who are looking to introduce new communications processes that accommodate remote workers. Similarly, providing your staff with opportunities to take on additional professional responsibilities or jump onto collaborative ongoing projects, may also ensure that your staff feel motivated to find their productivity groove during WFH days. It’s all about laying a ‘digital’ foundation upon which your organisation can continue to grow.
Preparing Ahead Of Time
Speaking of laying a foundation, making the switch to a hybrid work model after working from home may seem deceptively straightforward. In order to ensure a seamless transition either for yourself or for your staff (if you’re a business manager), you will need to ensure that you prepare physically and emotionally well ahead of time, just to ensure that there are no snags along the way.
Think about how your week is going to look and what your responsibilities will be both inside and outside of the office. You may need to organise daycare for the kids or consider how you are going to reach the office each day. You may also need to wash and prepare your work clothes, which have more or less been gathering figurative dust over the last twenty-four months or so. Figuring these details out ahead of time will ensure that you are more relaxed and at ease when the time comes to switch over to a hybrid work model.
Clarify What is Required
A hybrid work model may sound like it provides maximum flexibility, but be warned that this is not always the case. Whilst some employers may allow their team to come and go from the office as they like, others might not take such a free-flowing approach.
In some cases, an employer might require you to be in the office two days a week. They may even pre-determine which days you will need to be in the office and what days you can continue to work from home. These days may rotate from one week to the next or they could stay the same. Taking the time to clarify exactly what is expected of you moving forward will help you to be more organised and mentally prepared for the transition ahead of time.
Make The Transition From WFH To A Hybrid Work Model As Seamless As Possible
If you have been working from home since the beginning of the pandemic, the thoughts of transitioning back to the office, even part-time, can understandably be daunting. To ensure that the move is as straightforward and seamless as possible, you can absolutely use the tips that we’ve outlined above to help guide you through this final transition into a post-COVID world.
With a little planning and preparation, you can be sure that you will navigate the transition successfully and you will be back to being your usual productive, professional self in no time at all.