Straight Talk About Hybrid Work: 120 Interviews, 3 Checklists, 1 Global Workplace

By Pavla M. Selepa

Are you baffled by all the hype about hybrid work? Do you read studies that leave you wondering how they apply to you? Are you hoping to take advantage of the new workplace flexibilities but don't know exactly how? It's time for straight talk. Whether you are an owner concerned about the longevity of your company, a manager

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publisher
• Release date: Jan 1, 2024
• ISBN: 9781738237814

Book preview

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Chapter 1

Hybrid Is Hard

This book almost didn’t happen. The dreaded writer’s block struck on page 32, and as much as I tried, I couldn’t find my way around it. It’s no wonder that when one of my friends offered help, I jumped on a plane to Washington to go see him. In person. To discuss remote work.

You are reading the proof that my visit paid off handsomely. It also serves to illustrate an important point: The hybrid workplace holds great benefits just waiting to be realized, but it helps to know where to look and how to get at them. That’s what this book is about.

You see, my friend and I are as different as they come. He is larger than life, a consummate visionary and risk-taker who cut his professional teeth in the heyday of Silicon Valley. And I am … not. But with a bit of luck and hard work, two opposites can turn their differences into formidable strengths. Long ago we tackled some tough remote projects that compelled us to figure out the sweet spot for our partnership. That’s how we knew that brainstorming about my book called for an in-person visit. And so, after six years of video calls and texts, we sat down to a meal, took a walk in a park, and even worked side by side for a couple of hours, ignoring each other altogether. And yes, we talked and talked until the clouds parted, all became clear again, and my writer’s block was just a faint memory that would never irk me again.

In a completely remote setup, I would have stayed put and we would have toiled through several lengthy, exhausting video calls. Quite certainly some of our creativity would have been lost in the quest for expediency. Or, in the spirit of the legacy work model, I would have consulted someone less qualified nearby and probably ended up stuck staring at a blank page much longer. Instead, I found the right person for the task, mixed work with fun, and reaped a worthy payoff for my time and money. Now, with the job done, we have returned to our remote routine. That is, until the next project presents itself in however many years.

When blended wisely, the mix of in-person and remote collaboration can supercharge your results. More and more companies are finding that chasing after this reward is decidedly worth it, though the journey involves some trial and error. This book provides guidance to make sure that the errors in your trials are minimized.

In short, the potential payoff of hybrid culture is huge. The search for the perfect mix of benefits and costs for your company is on. But make no mistake, hybrid is hard.

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Chapter 2

The Hybrid Worker’s Guide to the Galaxy

For the last year, my fully remote team has complained about poor communication and micromanagement. Instead of addressing our issues, I mandated a return to the office. Now, my team communicates poorly and gets micromanaged in person. This is the future of work.

—Satirical posting by @anothercohen, a self-proclaimed professional shitposter

It took 80 years for the Industrial Revolution to take root. Two and a half centuries later, the Internet Revolution took about 20 years. Then, in March 2020, the way we used to work ended practically overnight. The arrival of the hybrid workplace forced masses of dazed employees around the globe into working from makeshift home offices, coping with suddenly outdated processes, and dealing with inadequate tooling. Is it any wonder that some of them still long for the predictability of the 9-to-5 routine, despite its traffic jams and expensive parking lots?

But once the dust settled, many workers began appreciating the new freedoms foisted on them by this natural disaster. How could they not? The job market suddenly made possible an escape from the confines of the neighborhood. Positions previously limited by geography, health issues, or personal obligations became accessible and alluring. Everyone had an opportunity to pursue their dream career without making the soul-crushing sacrifices expected of previous generations. Working for a Fortune 500 company from a cottage in the woods became a reality, as did the possibility of leaving your crammed, old walkup for that dream ranch in Arizona while keeping your job in Manhattan.

Just as steam and coal were the trademarks of the Industrial Revolution, the Hybrid Revolution will be remembered for giving companies an unprecedented opportunity to tap into a rich source of talent through a truly global workforce. But that’s not where it ends: A global workforce injects diversity and innovative thinking into what were previously homogeneous organizations, sparking new opportunities for corporate growth. Even seemingly insurmountable obstacles can turn into a competitive advantage with a bit of creativity. For instance, widely disparate time zones can support productive 24/7 workflows. Learning how to mine the potential of this new reality is our task for the next decade.

So, what is the gold standard? No one knows, and if they try to tell you otherwise, they are selling you snake oil. We don’t even have the language for it yet! Calling it work from home is wrong, or at least inaccurate. In many cases, it actually means working from a dedicated remote workspace that could be almost anywhere. Workers of all ages and skill levels are still learning how to relax and have fun while locking their eyes with colleagues over vast distances through cold-hearted video technology.

Of course, working face-to-face remains a necessity in many businesses that have been impervious to the hybrid workplace revolution: car mechanic, veterinary assistant, barista, kindergarten teacher, and sculptor, to name a few. If you work in one of these jobs, do yourself a favor: Keep this book handy, because there is a good chance some remote work components are creeping into your industry already.

For the rest of the companies, hybrid work may be just the right fuel to power your quest for new productivity, creativity, and value. This book makes it abundantly clear that the hybrid pivot comes with tremendous benefits, but also with costs and risks that you must weigh in your specific