Thrive with a Hybrid Workplace

"A clear-eyed effort to grapple with the emerging challenges of the hybrid workplace. No company is average; every company needs to make considered choices about where and when their employees will work in the future. Time and again, the authors remind us of the fact that reconciling and unifying diverse points of view is the key to enlightened leadership. And while there may seem to be a near-infinite array of options, they're all contained in what a company is and wants to be.- A much needed dive into uncharted territory as leaders debate and employees navigate the post-covid workplace. The days of executives looking across the floor counting head as a proxy for productivity and power are over. Julie Kantor and Felice Ekelman are building a new playing field, with new rules, where not just some--but all--people can win. Attorney Felice Ekelman and business psychologist Julie Kantor provide terrific pointers for everyone from CEOs to small team leaders on building a hybrid workplace that is both super-productive and highly supportive. Brimming with insights from companies large and small, 'Thrive' offers powerful success strategies for today's blended workstyle culture. Strongly recommended! Authors Ekelman and Kantor address the need for leaders to consider what a hybrid workplace means for their unique organization. From deep examination of what different types of work demand for employee effectiveness and productivity to identifying criteria for exceptions and possible legal ramifications, leaders are provided with concrete guidance. For example, attention is paid to the need for physical office space and related considerations, such as whether everyone will be in the office for set days, or if days in office may vary and a smaller space is sufficient. Diving more deeply into that smaller-space example, how will employees be assured that a space is available for them whenever they are in the office? This level of guidance through the challenges of defining hybrid work will not only result in solid outcomes but can serve a model for decision making in other areas as well. A valuable resource for any organization struggling with the challenges of finding balance between employee and organizational needs, Thrive with a Hybrid Workplace will find an audience in both public-library and business-school collections Ekelman and Kantor's practical guide helps leaders through the hybrid work maze to avoid the pitfalls and landmines that could occur if decisions around work are not aligned with company culture and process. They cover the whole employee value proposition, from hiring to talent management to goal setting to leadership training, that will enable a company to grow and thrive in ways consistent with its values and strategies. Felice Ekelman and Julie Kantor's insight into a post-Covid workplace is insightful, practical, and necessary for managers and executives to consider today. It will help all executives improve their leadership, understanding and communication skills. Few disagree that hybrid work is here to stay--hybrid work schedules in addition to hybrid work settings. Business psychologist and executive coach Kantor and employment attorney Ekelman embrace this notion, offering strategies and action steps to help business leaders and managers navigate the hybrid workplace. They outline key components of successful policies, including intentionality, trust, DEI mindfulness, and compliance. Written to help leaders draft and iterate hybrid workplace policies that promote employee satisfaction, productivity, and retention. In their recently published book, Felice Ekelman and Julie Kantor help to prepare leaders to guide their companies in a business world that is today more volatile, more uncertain, more complex, and more ambiguous than at any prior time that I can recall. They provide in their book an abundance of invaluable information, insights, and counsel that can help these leaders to respond effectively to the challenges that are certain to emerge, with or without prior indication. Julie Kantor and Felice Ekelman distill complicated workplace dynamics for both leaders and employees, getting each to see and understand the others' perspective and, most importantly, motivating all towards action and change. ""Thrive with a hybrid workplace"" is the ultimate and timely guidebook for all leaders trying to assess the hybrid schedule and parameters that work for their culture and company. The authors accurately foresaw that in the post Covid world employees would still expect a hybrid workplace. The book presents an excellent framework for leaders searching for equitable and consistent policies that will benefit all constituents. While the health of our cities depends on a return to the office, the five day commute may be a thing of the past. The book we all need now! For anyone (which these days is almost everyone) who is struggling to survive and thrive in the hybrid workplace, this guide sets you on a path to success. The authors help you align company policy with your values and establish an intentional articulation of the why and where of work. This book gets right to the questions every leader I know is wrestling with: should we fully embrace a hybrid workplace? If we do, what should our approach be? The authors offer a practical and refreshing take: hybrid workplaces are the new norm; to make them work, employees need to be listened to and trusted and leaders need to rise to the occasion. Executives should start by defining the culture and employee value proposition they want, and then decide what hybrid approach will support that. Following what the competition is doing or looking for cost savings won't get you a thriving workplace. I love the clear call to action for leaders: name your own biases and take a good look at your own feelings, attitudes, and behaviors. And I also love how much support leaders will find here - action steps to guide them through this important challenge, one step at a time. This book is a timely Must-Read for all levels of leaders who want to learn how to navigate the new hybrid work world. It provides a practical framework that breaks down the complex challenges every leader faces today. The particular focus on culture (1 of the 7 Cs of Leadership in the book) is an eye-opening, step-by-step guide on how leaders can't just communicate team values, they must embody them as a leader. Also, the new concepts of interpersonal glue and intentional communication offer creative advice on how leaders can engage and retain their teams. Every leaders should read this today! Thrive with a Hybrid Workplace is smart, well organized and insightful. Even more important, it's practical. Giving highly relatable, straightforward observations and advice is its super-power. As someone who thinks about the mental health of my colleagues in my day job, and mental health in our society more broadly during my volunteer time, I was particularly struck by the chapters on Compassion and on Wellness and Mental Health. Many people spend the majority of their waking time working, and the teachings in this book could potentially be a powerful tool for work leaders seeking to bolster the mental health of their people."