During the pandemic, remote work became the new normal for many industries. In fact, it became the only way to keep global economies afloat.
Had we not had the technology to make remote work possible, the repercussions of the pandemic would have been much worse than they have been. Fortunately, many industries were even able to see growth during this time, thanks to the benefits of remote work.
As companies are now calling employees back to work in a hybrid setup, how is organizational culture changing?
Remote Work vs. Hybrid Work
Companies in various sectors have realised the countless benefits of working remotely. Where a significantly improved work-life balance and shift flexibility boosted employee productivity and motivation; a substantial reduction in overhead and infrastructure costs worked in favour of companies.
But all was not hunky dory. The remote working model started presenting its fair share of challenges soon enough. For starters, remote work was leading to a lack of communication or, worse, miscommunication between remote employees.
Remote work can also hamper a sense of community and belonging among employees. In a nutshell, companies witnessed a loss of a sense of culture and teamwork. Many employees were even found moonlighting on the company’s dime.
Thus, companies soon realised that 100% remote work would not fly, and thus pivoted to a hybrid work model. To facilitate this shift, many companies turned to coworking spaces like Go Bermondsey, which provide a variety of workstations ranging from cubicles and private offices to conference rooms.
These plug-and-play coworking spaces are available for rent on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis and offer a range of amenities at an affordable price.
How a Hybrid Office can Build a Successful Culture
One crucial aspect of building a successful team and culture is the water cooler conversation, through which most employee relationships are build. A hybrid workplace facilitates this, allowing employees to have those informal conversations in a shared workspace designed to foster communication and collaboration.
Coworking spaces, in particular, offer shared amenities such as kitchen facilities, meeting rooms, and common areas, providing opportunities for informal conversations, socializing, and team-building activities that contribute to a positive work culture.
Go Bermondsey is a prime example of a successful hybrid workplace that has created a fully refurbished workspace within a brewery warehouse without altering its charm. It is a vast space that provides various isolated and interactive seating options for employees. What’s more, this space offers comprehensive customisations in terms of desk bookings, enabling employees to collaborate at any time, be it 2 to 3 days a week or a month.
Moreover, Go Bermondsey‘s coworking space is strategically located near London Bridge Station, making it just a 15 to 20 minutes tube ride from Westminster and Waterloo. This allows employees to come together quickly and conduct meetings on-site rather than relying on online communication. This further encourages teamwork and builds healthy professional relationships, all while keeping the commute time short and manageable for employees.
Hybrid workplaces have proven beneficial for building a successful team and culture. They provide an environment that fosters communication, collaboration, and the sharing of ideas. No wonder this model has, in a sense, replaced both remote working and full-time on-site working for countless companies, especially small and medium-sized businesses.
Using Coworking Spaces to Support Hybrid Work
The very nature of a hybrid office space improves communication, which is a major sore point for remote teams. Sure, remote workers have digital communication tools like live chat, phone calls and email at their disposal, but they are hardly as effective as face-to-face interactions, especially when conducting collaborative brainstorming sessions. This is why skedaddling to a coworking space nearby makes sense. It reduces misunderstandings and allows every team member to be heard.
Secondly, hybrid coworking spaces or offices ensure interaction and collaboration, but at the will of employees. Most companies allow their staff to choose the days they go on-site. This builds a healthy work culture – one that fosters a sense of community without compromising an employee’s flexibility.
Finally, a hybrid coworking office space can reduce isolation and increase employee focus. Occasional in-person work allows your staff to receive regular comprehensive feedback from their managers or team leaders. This can help employees stay motivated and feel like part of a team.
Remember that for a hybrid office model to succeed, you must choose a coworking office space that adapts to your needs instead of the other way around. At Go Bermondsey, we work closely with our clients to understand their unique requirements for office space and collaborate with them to find the best solution.
Once you have a coworking space that suits your business requirements, you will automatically improve communication and productivity, create a hybrid office culture, and retain top talent.