Managing in a hybrid world

Hybrid working presents managers with various challenges.

First, the understanding of hybrid working can vary across workers. Second, some hybrid working models mean workers can decide where to work, which can also affect what, when, and how they do their work. Not all workers appreciate this responsibility and may not know how to exercise hybrid working effectively. Third, hybrid working creates a significant amount of work for managers in coordinating requests from different workers. Such a challenge is even more prominent when the impact of hybrid working on teamwork, such as teamwork operation or cross-team work, is considered. To manage these challenges, managers should consider the following practices:

• Communicate with workers about the ideas and goals of adopting hybrid working
• Help workers to use hybrid working policies better
• Design hybrid working policies in a team or cross-team context using the knowledge of social networks.

Further information:

• Report: Where is your office today? (See section on "Tensions when implementing hybrid working policies?")
• Webinar recording: Hybrid and future ways of working: why one-size can’t fit all
• Podcast: What do workers want, and need, from an office space?
• Podcast: Preparing for a change of mindset as well as a change of office space