The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped workplaces at an unprecedented pace, pushing remote work from a niche setup to a global standard. In the process, a hybrid work model emerged, blending the flexibility of remote work with the collaboration of in-office settings. But as businesses scrambled to adjust, one pressing question arose: How can we strike the right balance between freedom and structure for employees?
From my experience as a European entrepreneur navigating startups across diverse sectors, hybrid work is not another passing fad. It’s a strategic shift that, if implemented thoughtfully, can drive employee satisfaction, retention, and even profitability. Let’s break it down.
The Pull of Hybrid Work: Why It Matters
For both businesses and employees, the benefits of hybrid work are evident. A recent study showcased in the Cisco Global Hybrid Work Survey reports that flexibility isn’t just a perk but a demand. Nearly half of surveyed employees are willing to accept pay cuts if it means retaining flexible work hours. This might sound like an exaggeration, but for those of us managing scaling teams, I can confirm it’s a reality driving recruitment and retention strategies.
Hybrid work also reduces burnout. According to ActivTrak’s productivity research, organizations with flexible policies experience 40% fewer incidents of employee disengagement. For business owners like me, this means teams are more productive and less prone to attrition.
Building the Right Hybrid Structure: A Guided Approach
If you’re considering hybrid work for your business, start small and adapt. Here’s how:
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Survey Your Workforce First
Ask your team what they need. The assumption that everyone thrives remotely is flawed. Some love the focus of a quiet home office, while others crave camaraderie at the workplace. Studies like those shared on Stanford University’s hybrid work research point to the “three days in-office, two days remote” model as optimal for balancing collaboration and autonomy. -
Invest in Technology for Equitable Collaboration
A hybrid team won’t succeed without the right tools. Use scheduling platforms like Google Workspace or Slack for communication. Moreover, tools enhancing hybrid equity, such as advanced video-conferencing systems, make remote teams feel equally valued. Google committed to flexible hybrid work by equipping its offices with these systems to maintain inclusivity. -
Revolutionize Office Time
Office days should focus on collaboration and creativity. Instead of simply transferring remote tasks to the office, use these days for brainstorming, training, or customer-facing meetings. This eliminates repetitiveness while enhancing the purpose of being physically present. -
Define Measurable Outcomes
Avoid micromanaging time; instead, track results. Hybrid workers are less fixated on clocking hours and more focused on producing quality work when expectations are set clearly. Tools like Jira or Monday.com help track progress while leaving employees to manage their schedules.
Common Missteps (and How to Avoid Them)
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Overloading Teams With Meetings
Managers can easily fall into the trap of over-communicating in hybrid settings. Remember, not everything requires a scheduled call. Foster asynchronous work by using tools like Trello or Notion for updates instead of mandatory online meetings. -
Ignoring Emotional Well-being
We need to remind ourselves that not every employee loves spending three days a week at home. Isolation can creep in easily. Initiatives like optional in-person social events or weekly virtual coffee breaks go a long way to keeping spirits high. -
Inflexible Schedules Defeating the Purpose
Mandating specific in-office days without input from employees can backfire, eroding goodwill. While structure is necessary, rigidity negates the entire premise of hybrid flexibility. -
Neglecting Inclusion of Remote Employees
In hybrid setups, it’s easy to focus on in-office workers. Create a culture where remote employees feel part of the team. For example, ask questions in meetings, give equal speaking opportunities, and ensure they aren't “last in line” to access resources or project leadership.
Beyond Cost Savings: Deeper Benefits for Startups
In my own ventures, the most surprising benefit of embracing hybrid work has been talent diversification. A hybrid model allows you to hire beyond local limits. When scaling CADChain, we onboarded developers from three different countries because the flexibility worked for everyone. If you restrict candidates to commuting distance, you limit access to specialized talent.
Additionally, hybrid setups bring unexpected creativity to problem-solving. Teams with more diverse backgrounds (enabled by remote hiring) generate a broader range of solutions. This isn’t anecdotal; research mirrors it, with hybrid teams often outperforming their fully remote counterparts on idea generation.
What Comes Next?
While pivoting to hybrid work might seem like a daunting experiment, doing so with clear planning and intent will pay off. Business owners need to trust their human capital and focus on potential outcomes, not processes. This includes fostering accountability, investing in tools, and ensuring that inclusivity extends beyond physical meetings. For leaders, the upcoming challenge isn’t merely about saving rent money, it’s about reinventing how and where work happens.
If your business hasn’t tried this route yet, start gradually. Allocate one day a week as an “experimental hybrid day,” and gather feedback from employees. Adjust as you learn what works best.
The Takeaway
Hybrid work isn’t a trend; it’s a calculated response to evolving workforce needs. The companies that thrive will be those willing to rethink tradition and embrace change. As entrepreneurs, it’s on us to lead this change, not just for efficiency or profits, but because people deserve workplaces where they truly flourish. So, let’s adapt, not just for them, but for the future of work itself.
FAQ
1. What is the hybrid work model, and why is it gaining popularity?
The hybrid work model combines in-office and remote work, offering flexibility and autonomy to employees. Its popularity stems from improved productivity, work-life balance, and cost-effectiveness for businesses. Learn more about hybrid work in the Cisco Global Hybrid Work Study.
2. How does hybrid work impact employee productivity?
Hybrid work boosts productivity by reducing distractions and offering autonomy to employees, allowing them to manage their schedules effectively. Check out the ActivTrak blog on hybrid work arrangements.
3. What are some challenges businesses face with hybrid work?
Challenges include cultural resistance, communication gaps, and the need for upgraded technologies to support equitable collaboration. Tailored approaches can help overcome these barriers.
4. What is the optimal schedule for hybrid work?
Studies suggest a three-day in-office and two-day remote work model balances collaboration and autonomy. Discover Stanford University’s research on this hybrid model.
5. How can businesses foster inclusivity for remote employees in hybrid roles?
Equitable tools, such as advanced video conferencing systems, shared project platforms, and inclusive meeting practices, ensure remote employees feel as valued as their in-office counterparts. Learn about Google’s hybrid approach to work.
6. How does hybrid work affect employee well-being?
Hybrid work helps reduce burnout by providing employees with flexibility and allowing them to prioritize mental and physical health. Explore findings from ActivTrak’s research.
7. How can businesses maximize the benefits of in-office workdays?
Businesses should focus on collaboration, creativity, and team-building activities during in-office workdays, rather than replicating remote tasks.
8. Why is flexibility a key demand for employees today?
Employees value flexibility for its ability to improve work-life balance and reduce stress. Many are even willing to accept pay cuts to retain flexible work options. See findings in Forbes UK statistics on remote work.
9. How does hybrid work support talent acquisition?
Hybrid work models expand hiring opportunities to global talent pools, allowing businesses to tap into a more diverse and specialized workforce. Discover benefits of hybrid work at ActivTrak.
10. What tools are essential for a successful hybrid work environment?
Key tools include scheduling platforms like Google Workspace, project management software like Jira, and communication tools like Slack, ensuring seamless collaboration and productivity. Learn about Google’s investment in hybrid work tools.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
