The creative and mental benefits of hybrid working

As businesses start to find a new sense of normality in a post-pandemic world, the conversation around flexible working continues to persist. At the Beacon Agency, we believe in all things balance, which is why we’ve implemented a hybrid working arrangement that allows members of our team to divide their time between working from home and coming into the office.

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We all know the marketing industry is one of high-pressure and tight deadlines (the perfect cocktail for burnout) which is why the mental and creative benefits of working from home several days per week are so terribly important to our team.

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More flexibility at work

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In a perfect world, life and its surprises would pause when you’re at work, and continue once you clock off. In the real world, however, the exact opposite is true. Sometimes life has a way of barging through the door when you least expect it. Maybe you need to see the doctor, give someone a lift, or let a handyman come over to fix your broken boiler. Flexibility at work is super important, as the lack thereof can lead to excess stress and burnout when life becomes a touch too much.

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With the flexibility that hybrid working offers, you're able to find a balance between your work and personal life in a way that works best for you. Parents with young children, for example, can save money and stress on childcare when they work from home, and any time saved on commuting can be used on things like exercise, cleaning or spending time with family. Sometimes life just happens, and knowing you have the cushion of working from home to fall back on is sure to have an effect on your overall mood, stress levels and mental health.

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Increased productivity

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Humans love choices. The ability to choose makes us feel in control, satisfied, and ultimately more motivated. Hybrid working is designed to offer exactly that: a choice. Everyone is different, and while some prefer to work amongst their colleagues in an office, others might only be able to focus when they’re by themselves in a quiet environment. A hybrid working model empowers employees to work to their strengths, which then in return boosts productivity.

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At Beacon, we have members of the team who are much more productive (and creative) towards the afternoon and evening than they are in the morning. As a proud hybrid and flexible workplace, we play to the strengths of these team members by offering them the opportunity to start and end their workdays at a time that suits them best—especially on days they’re working from home, and don’t have to worry about commuting from the office late at night.

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Improved morale

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When team members are allowed full autonomy and decision-making around how, where and when they work, employee satisfaction and morale are bound to skyrocket. It definitely takes a certain amount of trust for an employer to allow their team to work from home, and it’s this complete faith that makes employees feel valued in the workplace.

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Whether you feel more productive at home or in the office, getting to split your time between the two allows for more control over your workload, and the ability to organise your tasks according to the environment in which you feel most productive. This kind of control is exactly what makes employees feel more positive and relied upon.

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Better team relationships

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Productivity and work-life balance aside, one of the biggest benefits of hybrid working is that certain human touch that a fully remote working model lacks. We spend so much time of our lives at work, talking to and interacting with our colleagues, that we don’t realise how important our workplace relationships really are. Virtual meetings are effective for everyday communication and brainstorming, but there is just something completely different about getting together in person and bouncing off each other.

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Knowing and understanding the people you work with on a personal level is important for inclusivity, problem-solving and preventing conflict—all of which play an equally big part in overall work satisfaction and happiness. Hybrid working allows team members the opportunity to get to know and communicate with each other both in real life in an office, as well as virtually at home.

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Abolishing cabin fever

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Fully remote work certainly offers an incredible amount of flexibility—at a price. When working purely from home, that previously-mentioned  human touch is no longer there, and you might find yourself struggling to connect with your team. What’s more, for those who live alone or in small, confined spaces, working from home full-time can be particularly isolating.

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When you work in the same space you go to relax, your brain can become confused by no longer viewing said space as a sanctuary away from workplace responsibilities. A regular change of scenery offered by hybrid working can help with getting out of your own head, coping with stress, and refreshing your thinking.

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