The global pandemic has changed the way we live and work. As more of the population becomes vaccinated, it is anticipated that people will slowly return to work and things will transition into a “new normal”. What does this “new normal” look like? Although it is still unclear, the pandemic has made it apparent that there isn’t one normal that works best for everyone. People face individual challenges and have unique needs and dreams. One way employers can support this is by having a hybrid work model.
Adopting a hybrid work model may be necessary for employers to keep and attract top talent. A daily commute can eat up a lot of personal time, but working independently long term can become isolating. The flexibility of a hybrid work model allows people to work wherever suits their needs. However, altering the way your employees work may cause anxiety and raise questions. A strong performance management system can help your employees adjust to this change, and encourage higher performance and engagement from your team. Here are 3 ways you can help your team adjust, and perform well with a hybrid work model.
1) Ensure your team members are aligned
Whether you are working from home, a coffee shop or in an office next to your peers, it is important that everyone is marching in the same direction. This is vital for all aspects of your business, from upholding company values to completing specific tasks and projects, having alignment will ensure that your team feels included and that they are contributing to organizational objectives. Goal alignment is especially important for remote workforces; however, a strong performance management system can help regardless of where your team works. Performance management systems provide visibility and ensure that work being completed aligns with long term company objectives. Furthermore, a strong performance management system can help highlight your company values, ensure your team members are aligned and that performance and progress is visible and monitored in real-time.
2) Have regular check-ins with employees
The pandemic has forced companies to become more flexible on where and when their people work. It has been over a year since the change and people might feel disengaged and may even be looking for new opportunities. It has been reported that more than 40% of workers will look for a new job once the pandemic subsides. To retain your talent, it is important to make sure they are happy. This can be done through regular check-ins to understand their needs. The needs of your people will be different, some may want to upskill and focus on professional development while others may want to focus on their family and personal lives and simply fulfill their tasks at work. Understanding the needs of your people and working with them to achieve their goals will keep them motivated and engaged. 43% of highly-engaged employees receive feedback at least once a week. A good performance management system can help, especially if your team is not working in the same place at the same time. A system should be put in place to document conversations and monitor progress.
In addition, if your company gains new talent, a good communication tool that enables 360-degree, real-time feedback will make onboarding easier, particularly if you are hiring remote talent which do not have the benefit of in-office conversations. It allows your new employees to highlight aspects of onboarding that may be unnecessary or aspects that have been missed. Over time this can make your onboarding process more efficient and engaging.
3) Avoid unconscious biases
The past few years have brought a lot of attention to diversity, inclusion and unconscious biases. Another avenue for unconscious biases arises with the hybrid work model. Some workers may fear that if they don’t come into the office, they may lose out on promotions and other opportunities – as the saying goes “out of sight, out of mind”. Having a centralized online system for communication can help avoid this from manifesting. Whether in the office or at home, a performance management solution can put everyone on the same platform avoiding potential unconscious biases that could arise.
Contact us to learn more about strong performance management systems and how we can help your team thrive with a hybrid work model. Worried about adoption? Don’t be, we can help!
