Finding Purpose in a Hybrid Work Lifestyle
In less than a decade, most people will not go to an office for work every day. Instead, it will be a mix of in-person and remote work — i.e., hybrid work.
2020 has changed most facets of daily life. Yes, food is mostly the same, nature is about the same (if decreasing every day), and people are more or less the same. But the reality is that we have all been affected by the ongoing lockdowns and pandemic scares that sprung from the third decade of the 21st century. Among the most-changed aspects of life? Work. Or more precisely, where we go to work.
It was not long ago when most of us went to work in an office, a factory, a mine, or some other “place” that wasn’t our home. Yes, there have been digital nomads — those who work online remotely — since the internet was invented. But they were the minority, and did so out of pleasure. Usually a love of travel and freedom. But now, well into 2021? It looks like nearly half of the global workforce works remotely.
Further studies point towards an increasing stretch in that direction. According to research and advisory firm Gartner, 4/5ths of the company leaders they surveyed said their organisations planned to permit employees to work remotely, at least part of the time. And nearly 50% will allow employees to work from home full-time.
So what does this tell us? Remote work is here to stay, and it’s not going away.
But that is not the full story… Because in-person collaboration is still crucial to organisations worldwide. From executive meetings to more casual brainstorming sessions, “office-work” is not going to go away, either. We’ve recently seen a surge in hybrid work — a mix between remote and office work. Companies like Ford and Google are embracing it, by accommodating both remote and in-person workers.
This is fantastic news for the majority of workers, as it means there will be much greater flexibility for those who want to work from home, as well as other benefits. However, it will also be easy for workers to lose their sense of purpose, because of these changes to their work lifestyle. Not everyone is able to embrace change with ease. So for many, it will also mean a bit of a crisis in terms of their work life.
Why?
Because routine is so important for organisations, as well as for most individuals. With so much flexibility — like being able to choose to stay home full-time, or to go to the office three times a week — one starts to question not just why they should get in the car (or tube) to go to work. They also start to question the very purpose of their job. But like all times of crisis, this can also be a fertile time for opportunity.
If working from home or in a hybrid fashion appeals to you, then as long as your company leader agrees, you’re set. But what about those who want that flexibility, and it’s not offered to them. Or if they don’t want it at all — yet they must take it?
In that case, this is the perfect time to consider a career move. Yes, you can certainly try to adapt to the new requirements that your company puts in place. You may end up liking the changes. But this is not about just adapting to a new hybrid way of working, where you may not need to go to the office every day anymore. It’s about thinking about whether you’re in the right place to work at all.
So if you feel a bit unsure about your new work situation, ask yourself this... Is my job personally fulfilling, making me feel satisfied with what I accomplish there every day? Because if it’s not, then it might be the time to consider a change. Of course, jobs are not necessarily grown on trees. Unless you’re a lumberjack, perhaps. So this is not about just quitting your day job, either.
The point is to realise what’s important in life. And work is usually where we spend most of it. So if 2020 showed us one thing above the others, it’s that life is short and anything can happen. Therefore, it’s not a bad idea to spend our working days doing something that satisfies us. That nurtures our souls, as we create something meaningful. That fills us with a sense of purpose... And that feels right.
In a PwC survey of 669 CEOs, 78% agreed that remote collaboration was here to stay, long-term. This could be your key to aligning your goals (like more freedom, space or time) with your career. Or it could also be an opportunity to take a step back and consider what type of job would make you happy. Because you don’t have to depend on your city for work anymore. Or in any city, for that matter.
Working remotely means being able to work from anywhere. And hybrid work means the possibilities of having your dream job, with more freedom but also close collaboration, are more available too. With all of those options, if you still feel like it’s not enough to give meaning or a sense of purpose to your work, then you know it’s time to find something else. All you have to do is put your talents to use.