Optimizing productivity through work models: how to find the right balance?
It‘s no secret that the past five years have brought some major changes to the job market. Perhaps the most unexpected one concerns work policies. Whereas half a decade ago remote work was mostly discussed on a theoretical level, today it is a standard option for employees in thousands of companies all over the world. But as controversies about productivity, group dynamics and teamwork efficiency creep in, it’s important to look at the big picture and ask: what does a productive compromise look like, and is there a universal solution?
Some employees are pushed to come back to the office, some get to choose a hybrid work model, and others have a complete freedom to choose what works for them – even if it means working 100% remotely. There’s no universal order, but according to Insoft People Partner Rimantė Bičiūnė, restricting this freedom causes a risk of employee dissatisfaction.
Flexible work is a priority
“I’ve seen candidates who simply don’t find 100% office work acceptable any more. And most of the time it‘s not about the office itself at all, but rather about avoiding a home-office commute, coordinating parental commitments (day care and school pick-ups, for example), individually choosing work hours, and so on“, Rimantė notes. According to her, the question about Insoft work policy often comes up during the first call with a new candidate. Most people expect to at least have the option of hybrid work: go to the office a couple days a week and spend the rest of the work week at their home office. This model is especially convenient for those who live further away from the office, share parental responsibilities with a partner etc. It’s no surprise that researchers titled this work policy as the most universal and productive one. But even with that in mind, hybrid work is not for everyone.
To allow every employee the full freedom of fine-tuning their work schedule with their personal preferences and needs, at Insoft everyone can choose whatever works for them, whether it means working from the office every day, working fully remotely, or mixing the two at any ratio. “When the pandemic forced us to go fully remote, every team refined a way to keep everyone in tune and manage projects in an efficient way irrespective of everyone’s location. With a combination of digital tools and internal processes in place, we’ve been able to keep a flexible work policy without compromising on productivity or team spirit. That said, it’s very rewarding to see so many employees choosing to come to the office most days”, Rimantė notes.
Remote work isn’t for everyone
A few years ago, the pandemic made thousands of companies switch to remote work. In an effort to optimize work efficiency in such conditions, a lot of attention was drawn to adopting teamwork management principles, setting up dedicated work spaces at home, and so on. Some people really found their flow in this new setting, and others found this new regime rather unhealthy. Working longer hours, skipping on breaks, burning out…these are just a few issues that were talked about when remote work entered the picture on a grand scale. Others experienced the opposite effect: they found it harder to focus, struggled with overall productivity and daily distractions, such as kids and/or pets. Naturally, when the situation changed, some people were more than happy to come back to their prior regime, while others preferred to stick to their “new normal”.
According to Rimantė, a lot of Insoft employees prefer to work from the office because of the company culture. “Even though some employees really found their rhythm whilst working from home, today we see them at the office on most days, because being here means having a daily catch-up with work friends, enjoying their morning coffee in good company, and bonding over shared experiences and adventures over lunch. There’s no better proof for a healthy, thriving company culture”, she notes. As for those who prefer working from home, she advises to keep searching for that perfect work-life balance by:
- Setting 2-3 top priorities for the day and setting unplanned meetings and emails aside;
- Making plans on various levels: monthly, weekly, daily. This way, you can see the big picture but also have a clear roadmap made of tasks that can be scattered throughout your calendar evenly;
- Responsibly scheduling not only work-related matters, but also personal plans, such as parental duties, doctor appointments, breaks etc.
- Leaving an unplanned hour or two a day for ad hoc tasks and spontaneous meetings;
- Actively asking for feedback from team members to encourage mutual growth and support.