In a recent interview, our CEO and President Alex Athanassoulas said: "No one can stop progress. But if we don't work actively to enhance it, it will ignore us and we will stay behind". In short, change is not something that you can opt in or out of. It is all around us and, unless we embrace it, our companies, our societies, our teams... will stay behind.

The importance of this mentality shift cannot be over-emphasized. Yet, we see around us a negative attitude towards change and a resistance to engage in it. In fact, according to research from the Harvard Business Review (HBR), executives of middle-sized companies are reporting seeing new and changed business models as a threat. And the limited few that don't see it this way, who acknowledge the potential opportunities that come with embracing changing business models, are still unlikely to actively transform their own business models compared to their larger counterparts.

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, the need for organizations to adapt and innovate has never been more crucial.

Business leaders are slow to embrace change, and at the same time, the war for talent is intensifying, and attracting and retaining skilled professionals has become a strategic imperative. The modern workforce craves flexibility, connection, balance, and, most importantly, a sense of purpose. Agility, Speed and Resilience have also become crucial ingredients to business success. To meet these evolving needs and to foster the aforementioned behaviours, business leaders must recognize the importance of incorporating innovative workplace models. Business leaders must actively collaborate with experts and embrace change.

Why 'Hybrid Work' Feels Threatening (& Why it Isn't!)

One of the key reasons why leaders refrain from changing to a hybrid work model is the issue of collaboration. The type of thinking that leads to this faulty reasoning is the very common 'analytical thinking'. Analytical thinking causes leaders to view an issue in silo, without considering how other factors may impact it. Yes, physical presence plays a key role to collaboration. However, collaboration is interconnected and dynamically affected by the extent to which employees feel that connected with the company's culture, satisfied and taken care of.

Here's the thing: hybrid work is the preferred model of work for most employees around the globe. The question then that leaders must ask themselves is not whether to embrace this change or not. Instead it's the following: if, on some of the days that employees work remotely, collaboration is limited, how can we counter-balance this through a workplace that encourages sociability, collaboration and brainstorming?

Social workplaces facilitate spontaneous and informal interactions between employees. These lead to impromptu discussions, brainstorming sessions and the sharing of insights. In a hybrid work model, social workplaces can serve as a hub where employees come together a few times per week to conduct work of more social and collaborative nature. This also helps to generate a sense of community. The importance of building a community is key as it enhances psychological safety which boosts innovation and collaboration.

The same can be applied to the issue of productivity. Leaders who are reluctant to change to a hybrid work model report lack of trust in the employee's ability to conduct productive work outside of the traditional office. Analytical thinking is behind this reasoning as well.

What if, instead, you considered the following: hybrid working allows employees to choose the most suitable work environment for their tasks. This flexibility enables individuals to work in a setting where they feel most productive and can focus on their work without distractions. Some employees thrive in a quiet home office, while others prefer the collaborative atmosphere of the office. By providing the option to work in different environments, hybrid working supports individual preferences and enhances overall productivity.

Hybrid working also offers employees the opportunity to strike a better work-life balance. By eliminating lengthy commutes and allowing more flexibility in scheduling, employees can allocate their time more efficiently. A healthier work-life balance reduces stress levels and improves overall well-being, leading to increased productivity during working hours.

The Bigger Issue

It's time to change the narrative, to move away from tendency to negatively view change. Here are some tips on how to achieve this.

Stirixis stands ready to partner with organizations seeking to embark on this transformative journey, leveraging their expertise and track record to create workspaces that empower teams, enhance productivity, and drive sustainable success. To learn more about how we help businesses transform, see our work below!

Explore our Recent #TrueProsperity Workplace Projects below!