– By Reena Jagtap
Ways of working have transformed drastically post-Covid era. Several employers have become more employee-centric and have provided flexibility in the way they manage their day-to-day responsibilities.
What is a hybrid working environment?
This model offers the choice to work from wherever one finds themselves most productive. It supports a blend of working in-office, on the go, and remotely. Various organisations have different policies around hybrid working. Some mandate at least two days of working from the office location, while others may vary.
While people may have diverse views on the benefits and challenges of the hybrid mode, I consider that there are more advantages to this form of working if one is able to discipline themselves and adhere to a schedule dedicatedly.
Increased productivity, reduction in costs, increased flexibility and agility, and employee satisfaction are some pros one can consider when opting for working from home or a remote location. Despite the numerous positives, we often hear of fatigue and burnout due to managing home as well as work. Working in isolation and not connecting with colleagues in person can also lead to a depressed environment. For leaders that manage large teams, it gets challenging to collaborate and ensure every employee is dedicatedly working towards meeting common goals.
How do you tackle and resolve these problem areas as a leader?
Look beyond the everyday tasks. What works for me is planning the entire week in advance. At the end of every week, I reflect on what has created an impact for the business and my team. I plan on investing the upcoming week in adding value by creating a well-defined plan and scheduling my meetings, checking in with my team members to monitor their progress, and blocking a slot in my calendar to analyse the performance of several stakeholders and business partners I work with.
This enables me to make decisions backed by data and helps me to validate my investment-related strategy. It is crucial to keep your team members and leaders aligned with all the progress that you have made on a project so that you move in the right direction.
For large organisations with key stakeholders based in different geographies, one must work in multiple time zones. When you are leading such a lifestyle and managing multiple markets in a hybrid mode, one must learn to multitask and plan their long day in such a way that they do not feel tired towards the evening. Start your morning with an exercise regime, have healthy meals throughout the day, take breaks to energise yourself, listen to music, meditate, go out for a walk in the park, and ensure that you are not stressing yourself by endlessly working.
Since my role demands connecting over calls with several agency partners and aligning a team of large members, I get very little time to manage my own tasks. I have modified my ways of working to focus on key tasks by developing the art of prioritisation and delegation. You are not a superhero; you must trust your team members and work towards achieving collaborative wins. When you discuss and brainstorm, a new perspective is unleashed, which may bring better innovation and creativity to the task at hand.
When you have an entrepreneurial mindset, you learn to dream big, become more accountable, take ownership of your results, and become resilient. This journey will help you overcome all the challenges that come with the hybrid working model.
As a leader in the Digital and Marketing industry, I ensure that I am constantly engaging with other leaders and mentors who are experts in this field by participating in conferences and panel discussions, participating as a guest speaker at industry forums, and collaborating with people who are on a similar wavelength as me. Engaging with students that are pursuing their Masters also helps me stay connected with young minds and think from a futuristic perspective.
One can lead outside if one is leading within. Self-contentment is at the core of everything you do. If you know that you are walking in the right direction, you can lead those who follow. So be very clear before making any commitments to achieving targets. Set priorities and goals based on past references.
Be realistic and work towards a futuristic outcome. Keep your team members motivated. You don’t have to treat them to fancy dinners or team outings; be kind and humble, be there when they need you, and most importantly, listen! Not every voice will reach your ear, but a true leader must be empathetic and understand each member of their team for the talent that they possess.
Progress updates, 1:1 Check-ins with your manager’s and subordinates do help in aligning the job-related tasks. But do think of the bigger picture. Network with your team members outside your teams’ chats or emails. Engage with them by sharing ideas and thought leadership content and make them confident to take up even more responsibility, whether they are with you in person or supporting you remotely.
About the Author:
Reena Jagtap, Lead Digital Marketing, has industry experience of over a decade in the fields of Manufacturing, Luxury Automotive, Industrial Engineering across areas like R&D, Marketing, Digital, Brand Management and Public Relations. She is currently a part of the Digital Transformation CX team at Henkel Adhesive Technologies, where she is responsible for the entire Digital Activation and Engagement. She has received numerous accolades and industry recognitions throughout her career. Listed as the 40 under 40 industry experts for 2023 by Business Mint, featured amongst the Top 50 inspiring women by Fox Story India, and awarded the prestigious ‘Above and Beyond Employee of the Year Award’ by Skoda Auto Volkswagen Group, to name a few. She is passionate about exploring new trends and technologies and mentoring young talent. Through her knowledge and experience, she looks forward to contributing towards making an impact across the Digital ecosystem.
