How can we make hybrid work stand the test of time?

The pandemic transformed work as we know it, and now as we fast forward to the present day, those who work in offices five days a week are increasingly sitting outside the norm. But is hybrid work going to permanently replace older working ideals? And does it really have the power of longevity? 

Check out four insightful reads that explore the opportunities and challenges of the evolution of hybrid work and ask whether it is here for the long haul. From redesigning work to promoting positive energy, how can leaders and employees make hybrid work work for everybody? Read on to find out! 

Read: Redesigning Work: How to Transform Your Organisation and Make Hybrid Work for Everyone

In her new book "Redesigning Work" Professor Lynda Gratton offers a four-step framework to help organisations reimagine work, drawing on her research into societal trends and experiences from the pandemic. Check out her real-world case studies, including HSBC, Fujitsu, and Telstra, that look into how companies can transform their approach and make hybrid working effective.

Read: Compromise is the only way to make hybrid stick

In his Make Work Better newsletter, Bruce Daisley looks at the hybrid work conundrum from both sides, highlighting how a reversal of flexible working policies could have a negative impact on autonomy and inclusivity, while also pointing out that remote working can lead to disconnection and a lack of organic development opportunities. The answer, he posits, lies in compromise. No one can get everything they want, but understanding the benefits and limitations of hybrid, and then meeting in the middle, is the key to its success. And harnessing new tech - like AI's focused on reducing the burden of meetings - could also make a positive contribution

Read: The perks and perils of remote-work gossip 

Now that hybrid and remote work has well and truly taken over modern professional life, what has happened to all the office gossip? According to the BBC it’s alive and well. Regardless of the increased amount of surveillance on employees' computers, anonymous workplace forums are flourishing as digital gathering spaces to discuss work frustrations. So have a read about how employees are keeping water cooler moments alive… even if it is slightly riskier these days! 

Read: Is Your Hybrid Team Losing Steam?

Do you feel like the innovation and productivity of your hybrid team is dwindling? In these times of cutbacks and constraint, leaders need to promote positive energy, collaboration and innovation to drive growth. HBR suggests three steps to do just that:  channelling collective energy by focusing disparate energies across teams in the same direction, generating energy for depleted teams by co-creating meaning and rewarding momentum as well as the end goal, and encouraging psychological safety, inclusivity, and diversity.