Top 5 Tips To Transitioning Back to the Hybrid Work Environment
Whether you’ve been working from home full-time or commuting to the office every day, transitioning back to a hybrid work environment can take some adjusting. Pour your coffee, upload your virtual office background for Teams, and get ready to dominate hybrid working with five helpful tips.
Maintaining Consistency
Home today, at the office tomorrow — switching locations each day can make it challenging to get into a good rhythm. Create a routine that you can follow whether you’re working on- or off-site. Having structure and predictability in your day allows you to focus your energy on performing your best at home and the office.
Though a hybrid work setup affords you flexibility, it can be helpful to designate specific working hours. This communicates your availability to coworkers and clients and sets a boundary between work and personal commitments.
Establishing a Dedicated Workspace
Both your home and office workspaces should promote focus, productivity and well-being. At home, delineate work and personal areas. If you don’t have a separate room available to set up shop, claim a section of a room that has minimal activity.
Aim for smart design. Choose ergonomic furniture that maximizes comfort and efficiency. Choose light sources that provide ample illumination to complete tasks. Organize your belongings so your most needed items are easily accessible.
Staying Professional While Working From Home
As comfortable as your sweats may be, they unfortunately do not exude professionalism. No need to go all-out with a three-piece suit. A business casual outfit can put you in the right mindset for the workday ahead.
Minimizing distractions is also a must. Set expectations for interruptions with other members of your household to avoid any surprise cameos on a video conference. Similarly, if your home workspace is less than camera-worthy, play it safe. Have a Zoom background with company logo ready to go. That way you’ll never have to scramble should a pop-up meeting arise.
Time Blocking
You may already structure your day by scheduling the most urgent and time-consuming tasks first. Enhance this time management technique by prioritizing tasks according to environment, too. Schedule tasks that involve brainstorming, collaboration and instant feedback for in-office days. Leave independent work that requires critical thinking and sustained concentration for at-home days.
Connecting With Team Members
Office time gives colleagues unique opportunities to strengthen bonds and build employee morale. If your schedules don’t always align, however, you may miss out on forging connections with some team members. Luckily, some in-office experiences can be replicated in a virtual setting.
Set up regular virtual coffee breaks. Allow this to be a time for non-work-related conversation, such as swapping personal anecdotes or sharing about hobbies. Save work talk for team meetings, which can also be held virtually. Just be sure to infuse a little fun into those, as well. From choosing the best Teams backgrounds to prioritizing tasks, you can make the most out of a hybrid work arrangement. A clear plan and effective strategies will help you resolve logistical challenges so you can enjoy the benefits of operating between your home and the office.
