What are the pros and cons of working from home versus the office? How can these environments be effectively combined in the future? What skills do managers need to navigate this shift, and how does it affect corporate culture and team cohesion? These are just a few of the questions addressed in our new series, Hybrid Work, to be introduced over the next few weeks. Led by expert Andreas Kaufmann, our team has distilled insights about this evolving work model into ten engaging sections. The series kicks off with Part 1: The New Normal.
Explore the complete Hybrid Work series overview starting today athere and in our LinkedIn feed.
What inspired the creation of this series on hybrid work?
The coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally reshaped the way we work. Hybrid working and remote leadership have become integral to the new normal. With our focus on empowering people, we aim to offer inspiration and practical guidance to help companies seamlessly integrate office-based and remote work into effective hybrid models. Our approach emphasizes a framework built on commitment, leadership, and culture.
What do you see as one of the biggest challenges of hybrid work?
Hybrid work has the potential to blend the best of both worlds: the collaboration of office work and the flexibility of working from home. However, achieving the right balance – and addressing the downsides of each – requires careful strategy. It’s not as simple as combining two elements to make a whole. Organization, culture, and leadership must all be redefined, practiced, and embedded in daily operations. At the same time, businesses must navigate a diverse array of interests by establishing clear and consistent guidelines.
What unique challenges does hybrid work present for managers?
Hybrid work introduces new demands on managers. They must consider how to keep their teams motivated and productive, while also fostering a sense of connection and collaboration across distances. Pandemic experience has shown that effective hybrid leadership requires managers to adapt through distinct learning phases, tailored to their organization’s culture and complexity. To support this, we’ve developed a structured roadmap to help managers confidently navigate these challenges.
