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Episode 30 | Improving the Hybrid Workday

by Niamh Moynihan on
Flexible Working Hybrid Working Success

Episode Summary 

Niamh Moynihan takes a short pause to encourage listeners to reflect on their current work model—particularly hybrid arrangements—and identify opportunities for improvement.

Though focused on hybrid setups, these insights apply to fully remote or in-office scenarios. In this concise episode, Niamh provides a simple reflection framework to help individuals and teams uncover what’s working, what’s not, and what they can do differently. The goal is continuous improvement, understanding that no model is perfect but can always be refined.

Key Points Discussed

Reflection as a Productivity Boost:

  • Studies show that spending the last 15 minutes of your day reflecting rather than rushing another task increases productivity by 25%.
  • This reflective habit fosters better decision-making and intentional progress.

Three Core Questions:

  • What’s Working Well? Start by identifying successes and effective elements of your current hybrid or work arrangement. Build on these strengths rather than overhauling everything.
  • What’s Not Working Well? Go beyond surface issues. Use the “Five Whys” to dig deeper into root causes. Understanding the real problem prevents “fixing symptoms” and leads to meaningful changes.
  • What Can I Do Differently? Treat changes as experiments. Test small adjustments over a few weeks to see if they improve matters. Larger changes may need more time. The goal is not perfection but continuous, incremental improvement.

Applying to Any Work Model:

  • Although the conversation centres on hybrid work, the framework works just as well for remote or in-office teams.
  • Reflect at both individual and team levels to understand how each member experiences current working conditions.
  • While many organisations have top-down policies, there’s plenty of room for team-level and individual initiatives to enhance how people collaborate and use their time.

Practical Tips from the Episode:

  • Set aside a short reflection period daily or weekly using the three-question framework.
  • For deeper issues, apply the “Five Whys” method to uncover the root cause of what’s not working.
  • Consider small, time-bound experiments (e.g., a 4-week trial) for implementing tweaks in your hybrid model.
  • Involve your team in these reflections—collective input can lead to more tailored and effective improvements.

Action Step

This Week’s Challenge: Take a few minutes to reflect on your work model—hybrid, remote, or in-office—and identify one small experiment you can try to improve what’s not working well. Keep it simple and time-bound, and then reassess.

If this episode helped you think differently about your workday, please share it with a colleague or friend who might find it valuable.

Until next time, stay well and have a better workday.

 

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