These January blues have a habit of hanging around a little too long…. but it’s not just a post-holiday setback.
According to Red Booth, February often brings a dip in productivity. Why is it one of the workforce’s least productive months of the year? Maybe because post-holiday blues are still hanging around, and in the northern hemisphere, it’s winter and the days are still short.
Whatever the cause, reduced productivity means the bottom line suffers. So how can we help our hybrid teams shake off those stubborn doldrums?
Re-energise your workforce
Nurturing hybrid working can have energising benefits for your staff. Providing them with opportunities to work close to home reduces the amount of time they spend commuting to your main office and gives them more of their day back. Whether they choose to spend it exercising, sleeping in, or hanging out with friends and family, you've created the conditions for a rejuvenated, happy workforce. Stats show this has a positive impact on performance too — an IWG survey found that more than a third of workers believe productivity is enhanced by the hybrid model.
Foster employee engagement
Healthy communication and interaction at work can help improve our social lives too. The December buzz of away days, gifting and events doesn’t have to die a death with the dawn of the new year. Culture-building events can happen on any day of the calendar. Some ideas for inspiring (and holding) the interest of your teams include sharing polls, surveys and quizzes which help people feel they have a genuine stake in work decisions and are being listened to. Boost morale and team spirit by making everyone feel included, whether they’re working in the office, closer to home, on the train or even abroad.
Tools for teams
Continuity is key to connectivity and communication in distributed workforce models. Different time zones and internet troubles can create barriers, so ensure that everyone is using the same software. The technology exists to ensure hybrid workforces are better supported than ever before; shared instant messaging, video calls and other collaboration tools create a sense of cohesion and allow everyone to feel ‘present’ even if they are not physically at the same location. It can reduce friction and boost productivity beyond expectation. PR agency Tyto is an excellent example of a progressive culture where employees receive an Oculus VR Headset when they join. “This had been an important tool for us to engage and collaborate during the pandemic. We found that VR brought us closer together when we couldn’t meet up.”
Boundaries bring benefits
Establishing clear practices for those who are dispersed through a hybrid system is key to cohesion and employee satisfaction. Guidelines for communication, working locations, travelling and working hours benefit the business and boost the morale of scattered teams. When tasks happen in sync, mutual understanding of thinking and processes fosters unity. Clear communication guidelines for remote working help to ensure everyone knows the preferred method of contact (e.g. email, Teams, Slack) and sets response expectations, which is especially important for urgent requests.
Coming together
It’s not always easy for geographically dispersed teams to build relationships and trust when people aren’t physically working in the same place. But managers have the potential to motivate employees and enhance cohesion; they can create familiarity and team spirit with weekly or bi-weekly in-person meetings so employees can connect and catch up. Remote employees can attend digitally, and if lunch is provided for those who are there, why not send remote employees a gift card to buy a meal so they feel included and valued equally? While creating opportunities to bring them together, don’t lose sight of the importance of time apart. Make sure everyone takes a break in a way that works for them. Encourage them to make every precious annual leave day count by taking time off throughout the year and not leaving it until the end of December or until it’s about to expire. Taking regular breaks is essential for mental and physical wellbeing and ad hoc short or longer term leave can bring endless benefits to individuals and to the business.
Contact Regus to find out how our flexible workspaces can help your business thrive.