According to recent data, a whopping 98% of employees reported that they’d like to work remotely at least part of the time. Many employees also want the option to work hybrid. What was once considered a temporary solution to a worldwide crisis is now, to some degree, expected and part of the “new normal.”
So how can managers of virtual, hybrid, and in-office teams empower their employees to stay motivated and do their best work? Here are six ways we’re seeing teams build trust, boost productivity, and keep employees happy.
6 Ways to Promote Blended Onsite, Remote, and Hybrid Workforce Empowerment
1. Increase Schedule Transparency
One of the most important aspects of managing a remote and hybrid team is knowing where your employees are at any given time. This means staying on top of both their physical work location and their working hours, especially when employers are promoting flexible schedules.
Many companies are turning to workforce management systems that give them easy visibility into:
- Who’s working in the office
- Who’s working remotely wherever work gets done
- Who’s working blended onsite, remote, and hybrid
- Who’s on a rest break
- Who’s on vacation
- Who’s off the clock
This technology can showcase schedules visually and break them out by your whole organization, department, team, or individual peers so you can stay in the know with a simple, quick glance.
2. Stay Connected with Collaborative Tools
You can’t build trust without transparency and openness, which means communication is even more important when it comes to remote and hybrid workforce empowerment. To effectively replace casual face-to-face meetings in an office setting, make sure your team has access to collaboration tools like:
- Instant messaging
- Pooled meeting notes
- Shared agendas
- Employee social networks
3. Encourage Work-Life Balance
When employees work from home, it can be harder for them to separate work time from personal time. This can lead to working outside of normal hours or skipping rest breaks, which can quickly lead to burnout.
Some ways you can use technology to encourage work-life balance among remote, hybrid, and in-office teams include:
- Prompting employees to take their breaks and log off on time with automated reminders
- Quantifying and tracking work-life balance as a percentage for individual employees
- Providing scheduling tools that enable them to also track personal appointments that are hidden from others in the company
- Ensuring that projects are distributed equitably among team members
Of course, it also helps to lead by example when it comes to adhering to working hours and taking rest breaks, as employees will often mirror what their managers do.
4. Nurture Accountability with Task Management
When it comes to productivity and focus, staying organized is key. Tools like workforce management software help employers and managers keep tabs on deliverables and daily work with transparent, real-time task tracking that shows progress on each individual’s goals.
By assigning specific tasks and milestones, you’re contributing to remote and hybrid workforce empowerment by encouraging employees to take ownership of their work and providing clear expectations that set them up for success.
5. Motivate Employees with Real-Time Recognition
Real-time task tracking also provides an opportunity for real-time recognition. Thanks to technology, it’s easy to give instant feedback and praise to employees when they meet a major milestone.
According to Deloitte, the impact of employee recognition can be measurable, with 14% higher rates of engagement, productivity, and performance. And even just a 15% increase in employee engagement can lead to a 2% margin increase.
6. Create an Ideal Work Environment
Above all, developing remote and hybrid workforce empowerment relies on providing employees with the environment and conditions that make them the happiest and most productive. This means enabling schedule flexibility as long as the work is being done and allowing diverse work arrangements.
Start Empowering Your Workforce with the Right Tools
Employee empowerment is more crucial than ever in a blended onsite, remote, and hybrid work environment. Keeping employees engaged and fulfilled in their work aids companies in hiring and retaining top talent.
Implementing a workforce management system like coAmplifi provides all the tools you need to create an environment of acceptance, accountability, flexibility, and productivity, all in one place, no matter where work happens.
Schedule a demo now to see coAmplifi in action!
