We hope it is not too late for us to begin by wishing everyone a Happy New Year. 2021 – what a year that was! In many respects, 2021 was more challenging than the previous year, with new COVID variants seemingly popping up every few months, plans were throttled, and many had to deal with a climate disaster as the year came to its end. Uncertainties continue.
Perhaps one of the biggest uncertainties coming into the year 2022, is whether this semblance of normalcy can carry on. Cinemas have reopened, dining-in is now allowed again, and a lot of celebrations have resumed. A huge chunk of the 16.08 million labor force in Malaysia has also returned to its workplace.
In 2022 however, new variants such as Omicron are delaying the reopening of country borders, and at the same time put brakes on many organizations’ return-to-office plans. Bosses groups such as the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) are pushing for the continuation of the hybrid workforce model for businesses that can afford to. About 61.7% of companies surveyed by MEF also indicated that they would continue to implement this hybrid work arrangement.
The hybrid work arrangement, however, isn’t without challenges. Team building, interaction, and discussion become limited, just to name a few. Hence, it is absolutely vital that employees be armed with the necessary skills for a successful hybrid workplace. With hiring and talent retention becoming increasingly difficult in the recruitment battleground nowadays. It is imperative that business leaders show their workforce that it will also support their longer-term professional development.
How then, to train and teach your hybrid workforces? We would like to share with you three simple tips.1. Customize the Content for Your Team
Take note of the communication challenges that plague the team the most. For example – responding to an angry customer’s email used to be easier when the whole team is gathered at one place to brainstorm a solution. How then, to ensure that the same dynamic could be replicated even when the team members are in different locations?
2. Harness the Right Tools
It goes without saying that Zoom meetings and other virtual meeting platforms are now a huge chunk of many people’s professional lives. Utilize the platforms to conduct virtual training sessions with the team, and ascertain the most conducive way for focused, productive learning where all users can learn, ask questions and provide feedback within the same session. Depending on the topic, if self-directed learning through on-demand modules or instructor-led, face-to-face training sessions could be more effective – so be it! Do also be conscious of your employees’ time – some can’t afford to sit through a two-hour virtual classroom, especially if their work requires them to jump in and out of Zoom meetings all day.
3. Better Interaction, Better Communication
With work environments now existing virtually anywhere. It can be challenging for existing employees and new hires to bond, and the culture can start feeling disparate. Cliques could form, and favoritism could occur, and this could potentially poison the company culture. In order to avoid polarization, it’s important to provide a space where social interaction could happen. Create a space where knowledge can be discussed, evaluated, and applied, and where people can interact and build relationships.
With the hybrid workplace becoming the norm for many in the foreseeable future. Having a strong and solid foundation would help employers in navigating a smoother, more effective hybrid work arrangement. Employees would also be able to enjoy greater control, flexibility, and freedom in terms of their work arrangement.
