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People’s preferences for where and how to work have changed as a result of significant workplace changes in recent years.

Fully remote positions are becoming less popular in the post-pandemic era as more businesses encourage staff members to visit the office more frequently. Nonetheless, it is evident that the majority of workers favour hybrid working arrangements.

According to a study by Leesman (published by the BBC), 94% of worldwide workers prefer the hybrid approach, with 2.75 days per week working from home being the best arrangement.

However, not everyone is in agreement. While workers welcome flexibility, many companies are advocating for more time spent in the workplace to improve engagement, culture, and collaboration—elements they feel are more difficult to cultivate from a distance.

Tension between company demands and employee expectations has increased as a result of this discrepancy.

The advantages and difficulties of hybrid work will be discussed in this article, along with five useful suggestions to help you succeed in both your home and office settings.

The structure and teamwork of the office are combined with the freedom of remote work in hybrid working. It offers workers the best of both worlds by allowing them to divide their time between in-person and home offices.

Although many employees find this approach appealing, several businesses are worried about how it may affect employee experience, engagement, and company culture. As a result, a number of significant companies, such as Nike and Disney, have implemented return-to-office (RTO) policies that require workers to work extra days on-site, often up to five days a week.

According to a recent Resume Builder poll, 72% of businesses with office space report higher revenue since implementing RTO policies, and 90% of them intend to be fully back in-office by 2024.

On a DMI podcast, Terry Payne, Global Managing Director at Aspire Recruitment, stated, “We’ve seen a big shift.” “Most of our marketing positions used to be remote, but now 90% of them require three days a week in the office.”

Given that it provides the freedom to better combine work and life, it is not surprising that employees prefer hybrid employment.

The top three benefits of hybrid working, per Gallup research, are:

A better balance between work and life (76%).

Time spent more effectively (64%)

Decreased weariness and burnout (61%)

Employees are able to better manage their schedules and preserve their well-being and productivity because to this flexibility.

• Better Work/Life Harmony : Better management of personal and professional obligations is one of the main benefits of hybrid employment. For example, parents can manage school or creche drop-offs and pick-ups more easily when they work from home without compromising productivity.
• More Effective Time Management : With hybrid models, workers may plan their days around their top priorities, increasing productivity and completing more work in less time.
• Decreased Fatigue and Burnout : Hybrid workers frequently report feeling less stressed since they have more control over their schedules and less commutes. Eliminating the daily commute to work can help people feel less exhausted and free up more time for relaxation and self-care.
• Greater Freedom and Flexibility : People can select when and where they work best with hybrid work. This flexibility, whether it be starting earlier or later in the day, helps balance work and personal obligations.
• Increased Output : Since they can concentrate without being distracted by needless meetings or office interruptions, many workers discover that they are more productive at home. Deeper focus and more significant output are frequently associated with a calmer setting.

Despite being the standard for many teams and organisations, hybrid working is not without its difficulties.

Common problems typically occur in areas like effective management, team inclusion, productivity, and communication.

Let’s take a closer look at the top five challenges highlighted in Gallup’s research.

Although there are many obvious advantages to hybrid working, there are also some typical drawbacks, particularly in the areas of communication, access, and teamwork. The top five, as shown by Gallup’s research, are as follows:

Restricted Access to Work Resources: Remote workers might only have access to company-provided resources or their own belongings. Although laptops are common, there may be greater limitations on access to office supplies at home, such as printers, scanners, and secure internal systems.

Weaker Connection to Company Culture: Workers who frequently miss work may be deprived of social opportunities that foster a strong feeling of community and purpose, such as team lunches, unplanned conversations, or after-hours activities.

Less Effective Collaboration: Although digital tools make it possible for teams to work remotely, some organisations still believe that in-person meetings are more productive, especially when it comes to brainstorming or problem-solving.

Weaker Coworker Relationships: Informal exchanges in common areas, such as hallways or break rooms, facilitate the development of relationships between teams. It is more difficult to recreate these natural interactions in virtual environments.

Decreased Cross-Functional Communication: Informal office discussions are frequently the means of fostering departmental collaboration. These chance encounters are less frequent in hybrid work, which may restrict innovative approaches to problem-solving.

A Remark Regarding New Employees

Many businesses see remote or hybrid work as a benefit that comes from trust and expertise. This sometimes means that new hires or recent graduates are urged to spend more time in the office at first in order to meet coworkers, become acquainted with the corporate culture, and comprehend operations.

According to Terry Payne of Aspire, “Companies are hiring recent graduates for positions in media and marketing, and those individuals need to be in an office because that’s how they learn the company’s DNA.” They will acquire knowledge through osmosis, which is how they will truly comprehend the product they are attempting to promote.

It should come as no surprise that hybrid working has grown to be a highly coveted benefit. According to a Stanford University study by Nicholas Bloom that was reported in The Economist, workers believe that the flexibility of hybrid employment is equal to an average salary increase of 8%.

In actuality, hybrid flexibility is a must for a lot of job seekers. Sixty percent of respondents said they would turn down a job offer without a hybrid working option, according to CPL’s most current salary guide.

Despite employee preference, a number of organisations are advocating for more frequent, if not full-time, office visits, citing issues with productivity, culture, and collaboration.

So, how can you both succeed in your position and argue for hybrid working?

For hybrid marketing teams, good communication is essential since it fosters teamwork, increases output, and keeps projects on track. It is your duty as a hybrid worker to maintain communication and provide flexibility in your communication style.

Establishing clear expectations for availability, communication style, and core working hours is a good place to start. Since every team operates differently, knowing what is expected of you will keep you productive and in sync.

Here are some useful pointers to improve communication:

Use the appropriate channels for the proper message: Slack or Microsoft Teams are ideal for short, real-time talks, while email is excellent for tracking comments or providing official updates.

React right away: Even acknowledging a message in a timely manner keeps the conversation going. When you’re pressed for time, use emoticons or brief template responses.

Regularly check in by greeting people in the morning, participating in sprints or stand-ups, and maintaining visibility, even from a distance.

Attend meetings and participate by speaking up: Be considerate, bring updates, and observe meeting protocol, such as turning on your camera and updating your software.

Don’t wait to be asked; take the initiative. When necessary, make contact, exchange opinions, and start discussions.

Note important points from meetings and action items in your notes. Take notes during a video chat because it’s easy to forget things; an email draft is a fantastic way to do this.

Be mindful of your tone: Misunderstandings can occur. Before sending, read your emails or chats, and where clarity is crucial, give someone a call.

Remaining mindful can help you communicate more effectively, focus better, and feel less stressed. Examine mindfulness applications to learn how to intentionally organise your day.

The greatest benefit of a hybrid worker is technology. Having the appropriate tools and systems in place is crucial for maintaining productivity, security, and connectivity, particularly while working remotely.

To safeguard your company’s network, make sure you have access to the platforms that your staff utilises and that your setup has the newest security features, like antivirus software and frequent system updates.

Every hybrid marketer should be aware of the following crucial tool categories:

Interaction : For task tracking and real-time updates, stay in touch with your team by using Monday.com or Slack. For virtual one-on-ones or team check-ins, Zoom and Google Meet are popular meeting options.

Cooperation: Marketers frequently work with people from other departments. Project management, work delegation, and progress visualisation are facilitated by platforms like Asana, Trello, and Notion.

Relationship Management for Customers (CRM): Tools like Salesforce and HubSpot provide vital insights into client behaviour and interaction if your job entails lead generation, email campaigns, or sales.

Effective Time Management: When dividing your days between the office and your home, time management is essential. To schedule meetings and create reminders, use Calendly or Google Calendar. To improve job planning, you can use tools like Toggl to track how much time you spend on different tasks.

Marketing workflows are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Learn how to use tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Midjourney to help with content production, brainstorming, and increasing productivity in general.

No matter where you’re working from, you can maintain your performance, stay connected, and contribute successfully by becoming proficient with these technologies.

Building solid ties with your management and team is essential for successful hybrid working. It’s beneficial to take a moment to consider how things are going for both you and other people, even if you’ve been using a hybrid model for a while.

An essential component of this process is feedback. Although it is possible to discuss hybrid working in official contexts like as HR meetings or performance reviews, it is not necessarily required. Just as illuminating can be a brief discussion in a team meeting or a private encounter with a reliable coworker.

You could:

Find out from your manager how your hybrid strategy is affecting team objectives.

Bring up a topic of conversation during a team meeting.

Set up a meeting especially to discuss workflow or communication.

Talk about your personal experience and solicit advice from colleagues.

Asking for input is vital, but so is putting it to use. Utilise it to evaluate your work habits, think about how you might be able to increase your productivity by making any necessary adjustments. Open communication and constant introspection are what make hybrid working successful.

Nowadays, cooperation is key to successful marketing because there are an increasing number of channels and strategies available. To plan, strategise, and carry out effective campaigns, marketers need to work together both within and between divisions. Simultaneously, maintaining innovation is crucial to drawing attention and promoting interaction across several touchpoints.

Here are a few effective strategies to encourage teamwork and ignite creativity:

Organise brainstorming sessions that are hybrid: Use systems like Mentimeter to collect feedback, conduct surveys, and cast real-time votes on ideas, and Miro or Jamboard for virtual whiteboarding.

Lead cross-functional meetings: Incorporate viewpoints from product development, sales, and customer support to improve campaigns and strengthen company-wide alignment.

Create shared calendars: By creating calendars for each team or campaign, you can keep everyone on track. Timelines and duties are made clearer with the use of tools like Calendly and Google Calendar.

Create a feedback culture by promoting frequent peer evaluations and helpful criticism. Platforms such as Tableau can provide dashboards that make analytics and performance data publicly accessible, encouraging openness and cooperation.

Promote the exchange of ideas: Create specific areas where team members may present, vote on, and improve marketing ideas using platforms like Aha! or IdeaScale. To stimulate new ideas, think of holding innovation challenges.

Conduct seminars for creativity: Set up in-person or virtual knowledge-sharing meetings where team members share strategies, methods, or trends to stimulate original thought.

Encourage employee advocacy by giving your staff the tools they need to represent your company. Advocacy initiatives help employees grow, feel satisfied, and build their personal brands in addition to increasing company visibility.

According to a recent Mortar Research poll, hybrid working has a favourable impact on worker productivity and well-being. The results showed that 54% of individuals increased their physical activity, 68% of people reported better sleep, and another 68% reported better general health.

It’s interesting to note that three out of four workers said their wellbeing would suffer if they were forced to return to a five-day workweek.

The daily commute is one of the most often mentioned pressures in typical job setups. Long and frequently erratic commutes can prolong the workday considerably and increase weariness and stress.

Additionally, studies have demonstrated that remote and hybrid work arrangements can be just as productive as full-time office employment, if not more so. Increased job satisfaction and better employee retention have been associated with these methods.

But not every hybrid experience is created equal. Some American workers have complained that they are less satisfied and more anxious as a result of what The Atlantic calls a “overhead tax.” This is a reference to a meeting and administrative overload that reduces the amount of time available for productive work.

Many factors, such as role, industry, organisational culture, and individual circumstances, influence how effective hybrid work is. Because of this, it continues to be a dynamic and changing aspect of contemporary work life.

Governments are starting to adapt to the changing environment. According to The Guardian, new legislation is being implemented in the UK to increase flexible working rights by making it the default option from the first day of employment. Employers and trade unions are already participating in discussions as the EU looks at new regulations pertaining to remote employment and the “right to disconnect.”

The work/life balance that many employees increasingly value—often as highly as pay—is provided by hybrid working.

Thankfully, there are several technologies available to help hybrid workers stay connected, productive, and efficient regardless of where they work.

Finding a work-life balance that works for both the business and the employee is essential to the success of hybrid employment.

Additionally, it’s important to note that several companies are starting to investigate a four-day workweek. Although this idea is currently in the early phases of testing, it has the potential to change the way hybrid models develop and perhaps eliminate the need for remote days entirely.

“It is far too early to declare the four-day work week to be a thing of the future,” Paul Knopp, the chair and CEO of KPMG US, told CNN. It is currently in the experimental stage.

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