SANTA CRUZ, Calif.,
July 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/
-- Plantronics, Inc. ("Poly" – formerly Plantronics and
Polycom) (NYSE: PLT), a global communications company that powers
meaningful human connection and collaboration, today issued a new
report that highlights a granular shift in focus from "place"
to "purpose" of work as businesses respond to the COVID-19
crisis, redesign their operations and reinvent the way they work.
Out of city co-working spaces, ergonomic at-home work setups and
virtual water cooler moments – the effects of this pandemic will
epitomize a new age of hybrid working.
Drawing on experts in the future of work, workspace design and
psychology, the Poly report, Hybrid Working:
Creating the "next normal" in work practices, spaces and
culture, sets out the path to the "next normal,"
where employees enjoy flexibility and choice, and businesses thrive
through motivated, collaborative and productive teams.
Darrius Jones, executive vice
president and chief strategy officer, Poly, explains: "The
unfortunate circumstances experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic
presents an opportunity for businesses to challenge current
thinking and shape a new future of work. The next normal is all
about hybrid working moving to the mainstream as we respond,
redesign and reinvent — flexible working across multiple locations,
with immersive, productive workspaces that accommodate the
workstyle of every employee."
Post-lockdown working practices
Triggered by
COVID-19, businesses have the opportunity to challenge convention
and redefine what "work" really means. Hybrid working will
introduce:
- New working patterns – new working policies that
bring employees flexibility on when and where they work;
- Outcome-based working – taking the focus off the
hours and location, to being productive and delivering
results;
- Optimized investment – looking beyond the company
office to create collaborative, technology-enabled personal
workspaces anywhere.
Tom Cheesewright, applied
futurist and contributor to the Poly report, said: "Even before the
pandemic, the nature of work was changing because the nature of
business is changing. Today, few can claim that the technology is a
barrier to changing practices, but the lockdown has highlighted the
need for investment into the cultural and behavioral components of
flexible work. The future is a flexible working environment that
caters to the needs of all employees, giving them the most
fulfilling work experience and in return allowing them to maximize
the value they return to the organization."
Hybrid working spaces
In the report, Sarah Susanka, architect and best-selling author
of the Not So Big® series of books, also explores why creating the
best environments for employees to be productive and collaborative
will be vital to the new hybrid working era. Poly's report sets out
the following key global trends for hybrid working spaces that will
emerge in 2020 and beyond:
- Home offices will be given as much attention as the
kitchen – ergonomically organized and crafted into places
that inspire;
- A prevalence of co-working – organizations will invest
in co-working spaces in the outskirts of expensive cities to
attract talent. Group collaboration and social connections with
colleagues and others will lead to cross-fertilization of ideas,
with resulting innovation;
- Cityscapes will change. Office towers as we know
them will most likely become a thing of the past. However, the city
as a vibrant social structure will remain, with the city's
amenities serving as extensions of the "not so big" individual
apartment, e.g. restaurants become an extension of their kitchen
and dining room.
Managing cultural change
Megan Reitz, professor of leadership and
dialogue at Hult Ashridge Business School, believes that businesses
need to "hardwire" fundamental habits into their teams' culture to
bring hybrid working teams together and ensure employees can speak
up. For teams to be agile, innovative, ethical and compassionate,
Poly's report says that work cultures need to be:
- Inclusive – diverse teams do better, but you
must be able to harness and appreciate difference;
- Inquiring – "one-size" management doesn't
fit all. Employees will respond differently to hybrid working and
managers must learn the skills to inquire, be curious and ask
questions;
- Purpose driven – we are seeing a
well-overdue widening of purpose and this focus on impact will
serve as a compass in times of change and make for a more
meaningful workplace.
Technology-enabled change
"Technology has a big role
to play in creating the next normal, powering new workflows between
people and places and enabling seamless communication and
collaboration so virtual teams are motivated and engaged," says
Jones. "If we respond, redesign and reinvent, we can meet
challenges head-on and constantly evolve with any changes we may
face."
The Poly report, Hybrid Working: Creating
the "next normal" in work practices, spaces and culture, is
available for download here.
About Poly
Plantronics, Inc. ("Poly" – formerly
Plantronics and Polycom) (NYSE: PLT) is a global communications
company that powers meaningful human connection and collaboration.
Poly combines legendary audio expertise and powerful video and
conferencing capabilities to overcome the distractions, complexity
and distance that make communication in and out of the workplace
challenging. Poly believes in solutions that make life easier when
they work together and with our partners' services. Our headsets,
software, desk phones, audio and video conferencing, analytics and
services are used worldwide and are a leading choice for every kind
of workspace. For more information, please
visit: www.poly.com.
Poly, the propeller design, and the Poly logo are trademarks of
Plantronics, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.
Poly Media Contact:
Shannon Shamoon
PR Manager
+1 (831) 201-9142
Shannon.Shamoon@poly.com
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SOURCE Poly