So much has changed over the past two years. With the disruptions we’ve had to endure due to COVID, both personally and professionally, many companies have had to learn to evolve quickly.
For business leaders, this meant restructuring their operations to adapt to a safer remote setup, while rebuilding their models of performance. In January 2021, 32% of Canadian employees aged 15 to 69 worked mostly from home, compared to only 4% in 2016. And today, 77% of Canadians consider flexibility in their work location and hours as a top priority for remaining with their current company.
As a result, businesses are being forced to embrace a remote or hybrid setup permanently. In fact, a survey showed that 72% of workplaces in Canada will stick with a remote or hybrid model. But with this additional flexibility in the workplace, it begs the question of how to effectively measure performance in a hybrid work environment. If your company is looking for some guidance in this post-pandemic "new norm" structure, here are some effective ways to improve performance management.
Implement KPIs
Being able to measure the performance and productivity of your workforce is crucial to the health and success of your company, especially now with hybrid structures. This is where KPIs come into play. KPI stands for Key Performance Indicator, which is one of the most important and effective metrics used to help companies define and achieve their core business goals. They can also be used to set specific targets, measure progress over time, track key results spanning different departments such as marketing, sales and HR. To be most effective, KPIs should be customized based on your business and specific objectives. These are essential tools for creating effective strategies, measuring success and making any adjustments that might be required. So if your business hasn't already been utilizing KPIs, now's a good time to start.
Encourage Transparent Communication
Good communication has always been vital for businesses to survive, and in today’s hybrid environment, it’s imperative. Frequency of communication and transparency need to be encouraged by management teams to keep employees engaged and on track. Since we can’t rely on in-person interactions for pulse or performance checks, regular communication should be prioritized to promote collaboration and teamwork, and to ensure your team is aligned with your business goals. Beyond the immediate business objectives, simply asking your team how they’re doing can also help managers understand what might be hindering their productivity, and what resources or tools could help to improve both their wellbeing and performance.
Focus on Outcomes Rather than Output
As the office environment changes, so does the typical 9 to 5 timeframe. With the enhanced flexibility of work hours, companies should not be attempting to measure performance or productivity based on the output from employees, meaning their work hours or the units produced. What really matters to your company’s bottom line is the outcome from your employee’s input. This means leaders and management should rather focus their time on monitoring things like customer satisfaction, revenue and go-to-market achievements.
Hire a Consultant
In such uncertain times where so much is changing at a rapid pace, keeping up can be challenging. When you’re juggling so much already as a business owner or manager, taking on the task of restructuring your workforce and rebuilding performance measures might feel overwhelming. Fortunately, you don’t have to take on this burden. Hire a consultant to do it for you. They can assist with everything, from your sales strategy to your business operations to your brand development to revenue growth and more. Having a business consultant by your side can offer the professional, expert guidance you can lean on to ensure you’re moving in the right direction and can continue to grow sustainably.
Changing times require a change in the way companies operate and structure their workplace. Otherwise, they risk falling behind. Although it can feel more challenging to measure performance in a hybrid environment, it all comes down to setting clear goals and a clear strategy, providing the support and resources your workers need, and hiring help when your business is struggling to adapt and move forward.