Discussion Guides
Communicating Effectively Discussion Guide
As a leader, it’s essential to recognize the importance of effective communication and to set the tone for proper communication …
As the modern work environment has evolved to include fully remote and hybrid work styles, the validity of working outside the office has been brought into question and is seen by some organizations as inferior to working in person. Post-pandemic, many companies have expected their teams to return to working in the office full-time. Hushed hybrid, however, has emerged as a silent revolution against the idea that in-person work equates to higher productivity and job satisfaction.
Instead of seeing hushed hybrid as a threat to the workplace, leaders should recognize this model as a powerful example of the success you can achieve when you embrace organizational agility and adapt to the changing needs of your teams.
Hybrid work is just one of the many ways the workplace has evolved in recent years. This specific evolution was accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic, which caused organizations to shift to remote work practically overnight. Many professionals experienced the remote work lifestyle for the first time during the pandemic. Since then, many employers have issued return-to-office (RTO) policies to mandate in-person work, but employees are reluctant to return to the office full-time and give up the benefits of working from home.
Hybrid work has changed work style expectations, shifting from loud and performative hybrid models with huge policy rollouts and transformation initiatives to a subtle, iterative approach that better prioritizes workers’ needs. An empty office used to be a symbol of panic, as it suggested that no one was working, so no progress was being made. Now, the empty office is a sign of progress because, behind the scenes, employees are empowered to work in the environment that suits them best, driving productivity, engagement and collaboration.
Hushed hybrid is a workplace practice where leaders adjust or disregard the company’s RTO policy to accommodate their team’s preferences and work styles. This model differs from typical hybrid work schedules and fully remote work because employees have the flexibility to work in the office or from home as they desire and as their leader allows. Hushed hybrid blends remote and in-office work by prioritizing asynchronous collaboration, trust-based flexibility and intentional connection.
The core components of the hushed hybrid model include:
The hushed hybrid model offers many benefits, as it:
These benefits have led to the rise of hushed hybrid. While companies have pushed for a return to in-person work and employees have resisted this change, hushed hybrid is an answer to this tension, as leaders work with their teams to maintain flexibility in work location while still receiving productive work.
This hushed hybrid model is an example of how organizations can respond to change without causing disruption. Today’s leaders use hushed hybrid to respond to the ever-changing needs of employees, projects and workplace challenges. For example, let’s say a project deadline is coming up, and a leader has noticed that their team’s productivity rates are higher when working remotely. They can use hushed hybrid to enable their employees to work from home, where they can have deep work sessions with fewer interruptions.
Hushed hybrid is not just a flexible workplace trend but a living example of organizational agility in action.
Organizational agility is more than just swiftly pivoting in the moment. It’s the capacity to adapt to change with flexibility, clarity and purpose without creating confusion and chaos. When your organization’s leadership centers around agility, leaders can sense when change is on the horizon and respond accordingly without disrupting everyday workflows. In a world of constant change, organizational agility is crucial for surviving and thriving.
Hushed hybrid shows organizational agility in action. The key to agility is knowing the right time and method to adapt. Hushed hybrid responds to the fluidity of change and the evolving needs of their team by enabling adaptability at both large scales and the micro level. On a large scale, hushed hybrid can reduce resignation rates by up to 35% by supporting flexible work options, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research.
At the micro level, employees know when and how they work best, so when leaders use the hushed hybrid model in the workplace, employees can choose to work from home for focus or in office to more easily collaborate with team members.
This kind of organizational agility can drive efficiency for both your team and organization as a whole, allowing your company to gain a competitive edge and become a powerful force in your industry.
The constant changes in the modern workplace mean organizations must learn how to adapt, as it’s become the true differentiator in determining which companies merely survive change and which ones thrive during it. When companies leverage skills like organizational agility, they can remain resilient during change and continue to deliver results in an ever-evolving landscape.
The Center for Leadership Studies (CLS) helps leaders build lasting agility that unlocks organization-wide success. Our Situational Change Leadership™ course empowers leaders to develop an agile leadership mindset, preparing for and guiding their teams through workplace changes confidently and effectively.
Explore our various leadership courses online, and contact CLS to learn more.
