Telecommuting is here to stay - adapting your role is key
In March 2022, the Work Trend Index Annual Report mentioned that 38% of US companies surveyed were now in hybrid work mode (alternating between working from home and being in the office), and that 53% of other companies were considering adopting it by 2023. The report also mentions that Generation Z and Millennials have no intention of returning to the office, and believe that companies need to reach out to them... wherever they are. As mentioned in the Revue Gestion article "Le renouveau de la gestion des talents se poursuit", managers must adapt to this new reality and change their role. They are becoming much more agents of transformation, carriers of meaning and ambassadors of the corporate culture.
Less vertical, the leadership style must emphasize coordination and alignment of forces.
Effective communication tools
It used to be so simple to get up from your workstation and walk over to a colleague's to get information. In many cases, your colleagues are at a distance, but have your communication systems adapted? If not, chat, virtual meeting and document sharing tools (such as Teams, Zoom, Slack, Asana, etc.) are ideal for keeping in touch with your teams and monitoring the progress of each project. Setting up a weekly group meeting can be just as beneficial in maintaining team synergy and fostering a strong sense of belonging among employees to their organization.
Keeping in touch with teams makes a fundamental difference to their level of well-being at work: the human link between them and you keeps you "connected" to what they want, what they're experiencing and what they're thinking.
Developing balance and well-being at work
A large number of employees are now opting for the hybrid formula or full telecommuting. The notion of quality of life and well-being at work is a priority for a majority of workers, particularly from Generation Z and the Millennials who are entering the job market. For employees, hybrid working means that days spent in the office must offer a work experience that justifies the move, whether in terms of efficiency or social interaction. If an employee ends up doing the equivalent of a telecommuting session at the office, it can't be beneficial for either the employee or the employer. So, mandatory office days should be an opportunity to create positive, collaborative moments that a remote day can never replace. Once again, planning the content of your employees' days in the office will be a wise move to ensure you add value!
In conclusion
Out of sight, out of mind? Not so much, provided that the days spent in the office are planned and that communication mechanisms are in place to ensure a good flow of information for all. The manager's style must also evolve (as it always does, one might say), less "dirigiste", more to guide, transmit and carry the corporate culture. Don't hesitate to involve employees in these change processes, since they are there to support you, just as you are there to take them further.
To find out more :
Team Management: Acquiring the Essential Know-How
