Learn from Amy Edmondson and Josh Bersin to Help Your Team Practice Intelligent Failure! Learn More →
Cisco Hybrid Work Index - Our Learnings!

Cisco released its first Hybrid Work Index – Here’s What We Learned!

  • Wednesday October 20, 2021
  • Flexible Work   

Having analyzed millions of customer data points across 34 countries, Cisco released its first Hybrid Work Index (HWI). The HWI examines how people’s preferences, habits, and technology usage have changed in the era of hybrid work.

 

The research in the Cisco Hybrid Work Index has a lot of insights for team leaders. This article will look at flexibility, engaged leadership, security, collaboration, and connection among remote workplaces. The data included can help you get and retain talent, increase your competitiveness, and optimize security from any location.

 

The research uncovered several insights for team leaders. We found the trends in meeting participation patterns especially insightful as they impact how leaders should design their teams’ day-to-day work and collaboration.

 

People want choice, and the hybrid workplace increases employee loyalty:
64%
agree that the ability to work remotely instead of coming into an office directly affects whether they stay or leave a job.

 

Cisco Hybrid Work Index

 

Meetings abound, but not everyone “participates” the same way:
Only 48% of meeting participants are likely to speak.

In addition, 98% of meetings have at least 1 person joining remotely – increasing the need for inclusion and engagement of remote participants, so that they feel equal to their peers on site.

 

Flexibility and Wellness are key drivers for hybrid work:
An overwhelming majority of respondents agree that personal health and wellness, along with flexible work arrangements, are non-negotiables as we move into the future of hybrid work.

 

Hybrid work means increased access to diverse talent:
82% of respondents agree that access to connectivity is critical to recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and the importance of ensuring everyone has equal access to jobs, education and healthcare opportunities.

 

People and Culture are Impacted by Flexibility and Engaged Leadership

 

One of the things that people appreciate most about hybrid work is flexibility. It improves the well-being of employees and their relationships with each other. The Cisco Hybrid Work Index shows the following important statistics about workers who have gone hybrid:

 

  • 73% of workers across the globe are more motivated and happier working remotely.
  • 68% say working hours are more fluid and flexible.
  • 68% note that team members are more punctual at virtual meetings.
  • 61% say their relationships with team members are stronger.
  • 60% feel a more serious connection with their organizations.

 

This indicates that workers want to have a part in choosing when, where, and how they work. Hybrid allows leaders to foster inclusion, choice, and flexibility. To retain workers, leaders must empower and enable workers while ensuring they have a sense of belonging.

 

Security Is Paramount to Maintaining Trust in a Hybrid Workplace

 

The Cisco Hybrid Work Index also looks at new security needs in a hybrid workplace. Organizations are now tasked with ensuring all connections are secure no matter where they are. As remote access becomes more in demand, security is scaling to meet that growth. Below are some statistics associated with this:

 

The number of remote devices protected with Cisco Umbrella has gone up 2.1 times since May 2020.
The usage of remote access and VPN apps protected through Cisco Secure Access by Duo has risen by 2.6 times.

 

Support and adoption of tools for securing the hybrid workplace have grown over the past two years. In the future, companies must look at work patterns used for authentication off-site and adjust the security to meet the company’s unique needs.

 

Collaboration Looks Different for Every Hybrid Team

 

In a hybrid world, collaboration has become more outcome-focused and agile due to the many tools available so workers can be productive in ways that best work for them. Many of these tools help create results on any device in any location. A few important statistics from the Cisco Hybrid Work Index are included below and span the last six months:

 

  • 231% increase in calling using the cloud
  • 167% growth in attendees to webinars
  • 467% increase in meetings using closed caption
  • 164% increase in translations used in real-time
  • 56% increase in live polling and Q&A participants

 

Think about collaboration as a way of communication that builds community. Remote teams must use various features to increase participation. It’s essential to be sure everyone can work the way they want when collaborating.

 

Hybrid Workplaces Require Connection

 

Finally, the Cisco Hybrid Work Index shows that connections are essential in hybrid environments. As these connections multiply and evolve, the network has to be capable of handling that. Consider that Internet traffic from small and mid-sized businesses is up 40% from 2019, and router traffic is growing even faster than in larger organizations.

 

Organizations must have networks in place to handle the added physical and digital needs of those who come into the office. Security measures and sufficient bandwidth must work with traffic from both home and office workers. All of these things combined give great insights into what to prioritize moving forward in a largely hybrid world.
Hybrid work has changed how teams collaborate and stay connected to win together. Modern leaders utilize new ways to help their teams adopt the new mindset, be flexible, and inclusive.

 


 

FEATURED TEAMRADERIE EXPERIENCE

 

Hybrid work requires new norms and skills. Teamraderie’s experience Setting-Up Your Team for Hybrid Work is premised on academic research and designed to help your team navigate hybrid successfully.

 

Team Building for Hybrid Teams

 

The hybrid world has both danger and opportunity for work teams. 

 

The danger is that we become fragmented, out-of-sync, and even distrustful of each other. We’ll succumb to the danger if we stick to the old ways of doing things. 

 

The opportunity is to become more inclusive, connected, adaptive, resilient, innovative, and productive. We’ll take advantage of this opportunity if we learn how to evolve how we collaborate and how we lead.

 

Stanford University’s Glenn Fajardo will lead your team through two exercises – one to capture your discoveries on improved ways of working enabled by remote work, and a second exercise that builds on that to establish an effective way for working together.

Experiences for Your Hybrid Team

Did you know that despite snacking being a global habit, 80% of snacks are popular in only one single country?

Led by a food & beverage expert, this experience aims to help build connection through a shared activity. During the experience, you will try snacks representing multiple cultures and continents and discuss each of your favorite snacks. Teamraderie will ship you an elegant kit containing three different snacks and a beverage. You will learn how different cultures are connected through snacks.   

Don’t miss this opportunity to build connection, leaving you with fresh perspectives, a sense of togetherness, and a renewed sense of collaboration.


[...]
$45 per person
25 min

Harvard Business Review states, “Teams should make authenticity a core value from the start.” When employees introduce their authentic selves, “Both they and their employer perform better.”

Led by Emmy nominated poet IN-Q, this experience aims to build trust and increase psychological safety through an interactive poetry workshop. For the first ten minutes, IN-Q performs a piece of work live — and your team becomes accustomed to ‘spoken word art’ or ‘slam poetry’ as a medium for story-telling. Then, IN-Q will share a prompt and your team will practice their own story-telling.

Don’t miss this opportunity to form deep connections and fast, leaving you with new insights, a feeling of camaraderie, and a revitalized team spirit.

A February 2021 Wall Street Journal front-page article praised this Teamraderie experience for emblematic of how modern managers are adapting their style for a new era of work. The WSJ story quotes a Dell Technologies executive who used the experience to create “a deeper sense of trust between colleagues.” This experience will help your team form deep connections and trust – fast.


[...]
$3,000 for up to 100 people
01h30m

Did you know the spice blend commonly known as pumpkin pie spice is based on a medieval blend called Poudre Douce?

Led by a food and beverage expert, this experience aims to build connection through an interactive coffee and tea tasting. During the experience, you will learn the history of coffee, tea, and the origins of “Pumpkin Pie Spice”. Teamraderie will provide you with a kit containing either pumpkin spice coffee or chai spiced teas and a snack. You will learn more about your teammates, yourselves, and the world.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, leaving you with new insights, a feeling of camaraderie, and a revitalized team spirit.


[...]
$45 per person
25 min
You might also like:
Latest Posts
View all posts

View our managers guide to hybrid work

Learn where "hybrid" is failing and seven tactics to ensure your team thrives.

View Guide

Categories
  • Teams
  • Remote Work
  • External Connections
  • Leadership

Want more insights and ideas?

Sign up for our weekly newsletter! Sign up!