I’ve seen many professional services companies that were early adopters of hybrid work due to the knowledge-based nature of their practices. However, as we all know, the pandemic dramatically accelerated the shift, proving that hybrid work could scale. By Patrick Connally, PhD.
A recent study from the Harvard Business Review (HBR) finds the “increase in remote work stems not just from tangible benefits such as time and cost savings, but also from the simple fact that remote work has proven its viability in people’s own experiences. More than half of [recent survey] respondents (58 percent) [anticipating] an increase say it’s because remote work has been normalized and well tested.”
In author’s work with professional services firms, he’s noticed 3 factors that distinguish those with a standout hybrid work experience:
- They focus on people: Instead of thinking in terms of technical specifications, start with how you want to empower employees and clients and choose technologies that support the desired outcome. For example, if you are focused on improving the employee experience, explore Microsoft Viva, which brings together communications, knowledge, learning, resources, and insights in the flow of work
- They think ahead: During the pandemic, some organizations chose to buy point solutions as a reaction to emerging needs. They ended up with a hodgepodge of solutions that are difficult to manage and don’t always work well together. Think about what you want hybrid work to look like in five years, not five weeks. To help get you started, Microsoft offers Art of the Possible events on hybrid-work topics such as reimagining the employee experience, redefining collaboration, and making the most of collaborative apps
- They provide agile support: When people work from anywhere, the way they access technical support changes significantly. Delivering on client expectations means support needs to be accessible and effective whenever and wherever it’s needed
Through digital choreography and a strategic approach to hybrid work, you not only become more competitive - you help clients drive digital transformation and growth, as well. Nice one!
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