Federal Government: Leading the Workforce in a Hybrid World
Three years after the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, 60 percent of Federal Government employees operate in a hybrid work setting, and 30 percent work fully remote.
Working in a hybrid environment means employees are more widely dispersed, mixing both remote and in-person work. Many employees prefer working in a hybrid setting, reporting higher productivity levels, better work-life balance, and more flexible work arrangements. Hybrid work, however, certainly presents challenges, including difficulty in creating a strong culture of connectedness and communication, and therefore requires Federal Government leaders to focus more intentionally on leading their hybrid workforce with this in mind.
There is not a singular answer or process for how to correctly navigate this new norm, the hybrid world. What works for one company or organization may not work for another. Creating success in a hybrid environment requires adaptability, continuously analyzing and adjusting organization and team structures, tools and technologies, development of current and future leaders, and policies for communication, collaboration, and knowledge management. While some companies or organizations may have a robust combination of capabilities and only need to make minor adjustments, other organizations may need to revamp a variety of these elements to find what works best for their respective organizations.
However, what should remain a priority for all organizations in transforming the hybrid world from a challenge to an opportunity is creating a strong sense of company culture. A positive work culture impacts all aspects of work, whether you see it or not. With a strong culture, employees can openly and freely create bold ideas, share them, and bring them to life to deliver successful solutions to clients.
Arc Aspicio’s company culture highlights five key elements: bravely explore and innovate, work, lead, and act, deliver on the mission, collaborate and be social, and live values of loyalty, respect, and gratitude. With these elements, Arc Aspicio cultivates a community that is ready to change the world and improve homeland security.
Surely the hybrid world has made it more difficult to maintain a strong culture; however, improving company culture can start with small initiatives like recognizing and rewarding valuable contributions or creating opportunities to build strong employee relationships. It can also take the form of having coffee chats that allow you to know colleagues outside of a work setting or All Hands meetings to better understand the diverse activity that occurs across the company. While a strong company culture does not solve all the problems presented in a hybrid environment, it can surely serve as a start by creating an environment that values connectedness and communication.
