It’s clear that workers like hybrid working. Research by Nicholas Bloom of Stanford University cited in The Economist suggests that employees reckon the blend of in-person and remote work is a perk equivalent to an average 8% pay increase.
In fact, many job applicants won’t even consider a job that doesn’t offer the flexibility of hybrid working. CPL’s recent salary guide found that 60% of people would turn down a job if it did not offer hybrid working.
But with the challenges mentioned above, companies are eager for employees to return to the office on a more regular, or even full-time, basis.
So how can you negotiate with your employer to continue (or begin) hybrid working and be successful in your role?
Communication is important for marketing teams as it drives productivity and enhances collaboration. The key as a hybrid worker is to participate and offer different ways to communicate.
It’s also important to establish what your manager and team expect in terms of communication as well as expectations around availability and core hours. This will depend on the dynamic of the team and your role, so make sure you know what’s required to ensure communication is smooth and effective.
Here are some tactics to enable good communication:
Use a variety of channels and know the purpose of each: For example, email is a great way to provide feedback on a project or campaign and keep track or ‘record’ of communication. While instant messaging or Slack is better for more ephemeral, real-time communication.
Be prompt: It’s important to respond to a team member or manager promptly. Don’t leave a query unanswered or go over a deadline without explanation. If you can’t respond with what someone wants, you should still reply to let them know you’ve received their message. Be aware that many messaging tools offer boilerplate or template responses and emojis that allow you to respond instantly.
Check in regularly: It’s important to check in with your team even if it’s just to say good morning or see if there’s anything you may have missed. Stand-ups or sprints are effective ways for team members to focus on key activities or give a run down of tasks.
Contribute to meetings: Make an effort to contribute in meetings and do what’s required of you. For example, if you need to give an update, prepare in advance so you have all the information to hand. ALso make sure to follow expected protocols such as having your camera on or keeping software like Zoom updated.
Be proactive: You don’t always have to wait for someone to contact you. Initiate a conversation or arrange a meeting if there’s something that needs to be discussed or if you just want to see how a campaign is performing.
Keep notes: Keep track of what’s been said in a meeting or note down any tasks you need to do. It’s easy to forget or mishear on a remote call so it’s worth having it written down to consult. You can save it as an email draft if that’s easier.
Be aware of tone: Things can get lost in translation through emails or messages, so proofread any communication beforehand to ensure what you’re saying is clear and empathetic, and consider following up by phone or video call for important messages.
Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness is not only good for mental health and work/life balance, but it can also help you be more productive. Check out these mindfulness apps to see if they can help boost productivity.