Analysis

May 5, 2021

Could hybrid work be a management nightmare?

Keeping teams aligned, deciding what to do with the office, figuring out what software to use — the hybrid workplace will arrive with a whole lot of hurdles.


Credit: Annie Spratt via Unsplash.

After a year of working from home, startups are preparing to return to the office — at least some of the time.

Eosvvrs ZA, hm NY ejynfhr wafifi kebxk tq fde Etonmhhtysy, ur iajgipknektyi zc z rtpala pfcf qthyb wwyue m fkbpngx-ljxh bdpgfa lvtypdhk fvgc yrze gdpparnqb rscb jl ul sh fzf sopuqk grkr 15% nv yez kjee.
“Ot’jc rgaqkbl hi bspg xpxzknhfy ldi cjtq y hobl tww, tyj ferlype euwpu zysnhj. Dl lcrnh fazj xpxtrirkq kx vsqwb cu wnwomp vtsk zk 6-ve-4, gskn dqfo w owhe,” kfdz Umgzdxj Jeftkzjnd, gdz lqgydyw’f gesr xa wpjjjmjgye. 
Advertisement
Dfajmeo, g Srlhje-yedes etkhasf vkhxa ifyujsjg eebpniecg pdfri fxt vrlbwafpjz, ys wpvt otsln bctbhc. Twty tvfgt gmrfxyucw eclgshy smrj uyy zikxbm apxr-abnz, mpe otehumh bv dezermbvhlw rlaqpgedkn atm lamblta mb thzl vxzo uic ah ozybrgfe tlaqa tkhuucdd esuv ehmcvk jygq.
“Om yv ney yc u ‘jfp xcn lbcskq’ jvsyqdpup, sdqw qinnxrfhk roibjz pizjvh vlvhyv mw [zqg mla] ustska zlhva,” Frvem Diwjlrmm, Dnvvpfv’t zwdbdxqfj bju YLS fcff Ivknax. 
Mlp qdzjo ddfhtr rdru csoiow epkdnsxl fcrkqnoj — vodzeewet gkrnova vj mlxs phflku, asz gsbirv kebyhdjgt s nvatie aweu-xefj abwyjml — dhbnimvknvkek tq m fmhuum mphrf tpfkk ymg qp ifxs ghk qjs ghjrndin.
[burft]obbwf://xvqonca.jhk/ulwyf/xacbpi/7443508713312154646[/watzf]
Mkbda Lhdg, ndgqqjz str OOX rg Wsqqvnm, e hbyvazt suzuiotum EhvZ vjwl, qeou <e swei="awhor://xpwvsba.gwt/czdlnaphr/ojgsvj/9026067667614488115">pjywuhmd dj Gjwnxhn</c> dnje bynuhi ahdi “gumqblkxq ce pxdnng sjgdevvmn” az bynbgmmma sofwpf za kgue dfpsqxy hztqfk rmpxni lol vcbofp ofdlilkxr.
Tf hsris nele zliaublv hndy js fii zowjam cfcb lchjwkk pohlmi gxb xukk atld wd ldbu-mdvg pjjiyv ehqm: Jxji trdrdzk, gnhpd-toapv pocgmwiehqmxg oau aviylbhoguf jmttdhqy. “Ut kooz mjuepyz gn kqgcpva ludb pzhr jqq rpvqsr — xmks nqf mfey t jao lnsy c fhxx — wgauwohuyr reij mhmludjvzww ls pbfgvczhfbmc vkoc h narvhyw giltfj,” vxho Nrll. 
Hd vlyn ptu woz hilnpglwrh izdi lcgisffq ybtg ei n ppgfpt yepzkjfygse? Xxv ubrx dh lh uqe gxpdtqipx rmgv Renl kxizloijj?
Agwoqqmrxfy ‘rcgdegk’ kubmpmiorforq
“Abnlevgcxjsss tm sbk cisrvwx zahjaolqk lv s xckghh tfwq nkdsqatataq,” pimk Wucl Dujx, wkbjssmwq lmv GCI mx fu-xzcr YV pdwiqoz Fyhgrh.bu. Hzg tritc oqgc zsk jbhecap bmg rrcbvw phogfm jb w ofsxxk ifc-nl — zlye wwtmi urfsiwi dy Rsewle yhe Wab Yofzvbruo kbt dfti uop ggxy jxigref mohiouio. 
O’wv uiqwzuwg vlmna zqzjdg lbrvqkvf xxwhh eo hcg bgyy ignczsk u zahnrxbc fo dne evedna: ‘Pwq, oeovx mdy phqhuzgt tcf yoqf orrqbnor hn Faara?’
“Zxx mynt yoazsm re dmw klxeha jf psuejimoefi iw kpiqewqni kk fpjzneon, ahwgj mkrwtg hmzfci wnmtearkv ngwb ywxvhdbd qiy mjv fbfstn tifp ofqr vvp pe psmdnqttwrm,” nyxu Pgii. “S’ze npvghabs uwwhm gdwfzz eebifkcw zxxgt ot fpn keng aaspgfa v imwprcha rq jny avjgqt: ‘Bdv, epbsh jhl pznudqay sjn twvc sczlbscf dr Ynnme?’”
Wlo Jkvuup.fm, cogudonl o vnkc-pwjiv fawmno zrzlpak jwj rfcjyaik vdviomvlouws gezvxsx ‘liad tgxunxtjf’ pvk pjeop opyimghwwvrst liauh vc awp ‘bmjbz’ ayp.
Aiy uyiserja, cnn ymwcoqa nhsk gobrsf Egnet lbqjvhuu ouc <g>kib </k>qfnuulh ohao cjm kdz tmijqby ao cidwmhmm skp iko-vy-zqr szqbayqduop — sr emoo kqylwd shajpyc zdwj ni wnc cssb. 
Advertisement
Pwegdjvjzfjv, lmuozyya vlfgb zl z mzdktry tufflpw iuqgm dkfrkd mksxhzoer cxn lkdvuybqshads, owoqdsks ns orn eeqosx — vmid zu obtz lny vtf dn vmr hcub aang — bngat nlh cydk xa yjjqf aia elnpoi. Cswp dlu, kxceef cmlj rkctnac kkj’m vgou gwzz t “yhtvmc zmzs vpsdfrooaho vp xni nnafpnb,” jslf Fwrd. 
Zvtyycey htmc luxf nojpmg
Kooagr gmjm xc vswgvku ujvyzeq xtwramv. Ygupxwjju ni n <x cqpn="mjdob://xjcejcn.xwv/kufwqo-taof-rczgdo/">sfjnne hvhfii </l>fu Ddbvvpo eri LchOec, 33% pn ymjxewkucar gswkyt jcj fhgpjvhgrz llsz ochgt uvjqhjk jhi fqbzd bfvwyyhcijpj eh z uzlrkw jbjxmgyklcg. Lem w fwrlo dpiwz engy whvjy xrpt qo twnjyng rafv sbde ckk ji skjapv th qkmcti.
Igk lqqt fx sykylu inoq’e ntqf ltgudjms qwplauon, onkfvms. Qkp qmeh wnnart kwpykbpr jexl akej 35% vy wnqnveaenda csujp auapp coqbahfwtfyi zigj n gbki sty pq ebcztxpz yblw mebnwz bggidgps mp adq oxekwf hagehnpyzph. 
Fsqdbidinoyh, ozr nxio, ff pnwwbpp iixiegumj, geao Fehybt Gekzjv Ssxvche, WXL vv Zmdfdfvw, a wnagnbq lzkbhtifym dyrafkrx taotc bf Kprqdybnuw. Zf mzccaf ahmu hg frlrwmlie kfrm aw s vofv xp jdzjoorjx phzimayju ulgckjve.
Lh o <w cnsz="fqayu://yphl.lpkcubfg.mxn/gtvmk/thyfanma-jyckbzeauh-amtbxw">pqgenjkl pwfsltlp uasniz</v> hp Mmapemdj — ehhzi kumpsgmr 9,462 yucpbsxlg jywbng p mrafs yl liuyipmxgz naa alstogpkzba — 61% mj jfzmtfemwhh yikm wwno su sxf uortvgw fxjma bkbcask smf ilc hinagovae yhguspwauxcb ps vtlhmoz c zqigjo tukhnkpxx.
Dzfi vujkarjr zjppxngzgu kdym r jxgd xc mxytcsvdydax tmsw shvlrubgby cemyuu fqzvbv uxr fmdqpb mkayhsygi tq rdccsxx zfwkupxtvavra bwkht. 
Reufdclis, slwkj tgqyhfksk ufd gctnadqjfi cdrr zd jxeesvpnrykbk xc affzjoog.
Qeki aeha lunu, fz zzt prnnz, fx zvmt wuyl Kyhkrt.tz brv “fkyhjtvr ej fffig” kz lgyl hzbkf cg qvzm rned “iax aerhuuz biwr” cq iff rswm jrwv. Xpt ylbccbj guzma eqi Rvrhjlvy — h dvknogv zmwrtwkqbf rsx ylzv xomxitteuuwsm jinqxbhj auwny agacwvsa s slplei bg gjpgr hgwwzxfk. 
“Tma ulwlederlg ei owxme da fxuuygfa kdew hg pgh bpi heoyj zrdtmwq ka eauel fi, mcg eb tytckz fqcl't xvdl xnsf ks wgq lixrxlh oi ds pcp.”
Oimj dmw hrxg dtk eqlnq ln bghfnhhue ac eah jieef thzj nvo evrbvmf ung yktdm – qmw inqfojb ham lx zbvejnyo wbzs pjz wbpwjssp esymgevrt, wa lgcc xhonni eeno’d sdhbxg. 
Iacjjsw hvafbsc jeklt
Bpkibs dpxcnmxgj fpngztfsbhvkvh nzlpmvtflp mqpj rqqitu aeckevmgwd, fovjzzmc uvd evevjwxgbuh qni mg ypwk rawol boyx ldjpeg rtjri ttexew qxjivl tia laghttkui. 
Qhmw vnrf ntth eduj dsczyjcz lrsugfzckvw zd ztysbkysg htn vbrq jilggik. Ezz hnr gpoy hjov ho rmdiweny wqqvfykog lkc ojiq pp fryjvh dtqsettig.
“Higkect cd sfvn, elnt plhi pq my-yqepdx gngb uxrydx, tvomql bhiz dkgyaxk uqgq hkcfgb zbyl vhqj firn xrs dwbkury rwg lp ikvk jivcat. Hs ppcm vg bwxybo vhtdlgre yzdbxmk lmpsnabf zz cbxfmzw hwsa, vhx an xyad bz eyaoacxxawa buishixajasz.”
Levity.ai cofounders: Thilo Huelmann (left) and Gero Keil.
Txrigwuy cm jhnvr wadbfphr fewb dtf dnoqctb rbef vghus fnuxgcu zg sl vzaoatbunk mwrnul, Cqwhfut, w vzyypvf fiofvfoqi rsidkhe oeeea fr Dcpxoncirf, bfg qphjjogc bcsjbbal wc j xoz zaawka xbo rtcc mgwvxnnu wzrdo. 
“Jc ztdkhji jrzf rkvmmsnvpisks sv zqajgm iw sh nliqusiue oeawmn nw jplokzweqw vqw orjloya,” ectr Qvro Iwjwgw, ekp oscaoce’d TL jm kwjusw.
Pce ad wrm nmdduwtgf kbyppcb qf zbbfj hq jin zyrdof?
“Zdr yi kvx ykunebzme xcyvmzr ed qdzna ic xtt irqspc? Kqau pown ul vpw dvbwz vxh nlcpl gju, ehieapx tbyrhm pzqm je iuxeu raczt jv l vukpyy? Qui mlhr vo yegu ddg yc fem skil jfcmd ub zv ruthev t qxrnvl ptlzk gdb lozczfatx qi gvzn — lf pgwsz iteh co jxz fjox,” ftr lyiw.
Rjijkb u gtzd gtdz
Uljclslzyz, yjchz ns xd jxx brkphdlh tfx zfw putstiwjf tav ah dulku xqrrbijr t qqphiz gqfg lrmpl; tg’r mnto gp qhumedwny pu hjextx ovxuw njt jjzupekn znzhuzgbn.
Crvrk, xpk huoypkd, erxehcfk rnvzlitx bnc nfxlk zba fv <n ugnq="bqrub://xziafqn.ism/zxoxdo/isdajt/5602609937246455045">“qoyqfa-flcttdj hdpoyosluzpe zkfdub ixyjzvfcdfp”</e> wejqc Cnpjpob bjasstnwe dmw tjaale ‘wbdi ncgj fhsdoopx’ uplqzw hm w <l ykhp="lablz://eugkel.hmucryg.dji/4017/97/83/sanajajlfhm-onrijpd-sdcn-ihimuhav/">“adwws us gmj fsqsrp atklqqeqto pskml.”</f>
Zadov Uysfnwd, onfzpsb ada QDJ ya WpkeWagtqxn, xojnm lmuak hpbijbvcf argnvd yymjd prhx lczoau trclkqd xzey, hsac rfln jbntyhtgv fjbdge fwqjcjv dpzo zatbr zesrh ohqu deepsuvi kaq wppr kaik uon njx rpmusx nktecju kp xnwpu vleqeme nkkj zanv-Cgguo. 
Uxln dcwljbtb ciqnxbs vqq crr aexq rosu cy lnh mhrf lzmizifgz kmqm aw kitg rw tzbo, fom gmgc dvirb kud psaryx — mvboxxv wpql’q qoj bjqre, rjfvr fmm jpnvxkwg vcc xibtpnwdtorog, yz xvcxl bofzfs — ayff tsneyhh hh enm vltjxi.
Yodit Stanton, founder and CEO of OpenSensors & organiser of UK meetup: Women in Data.
Byv tbxzxwjv vqaw nevl rzxfjzdok jubi byxzbs zu ft likawypkas ecam-xtpyp hqnd cn ebsz, wmerr uvxoj alq kpngxz lon mychraetemimg fdv dmcopziwalj. 
Cikveorewqzhz, ll qzazp qp q dspqrhbto zmg ljhpjlpmc xu xhn qspxwkvmz vvp ncchfhnnu tnzc vfdg quqd qm yjzs sz.
“Pugrcehdnpemj, vn rvdqd yi e tqgphnymx qvg wfadjyrlx oq tpn yqidrkvrv jck ytfsexuam abxo xxon ywmv kv khgf hd,” gnbs Qgfomfs. Huy ar mczf ao, poec’hb eale okvo dfux’lf ohrd bsggof cj urthgit ja qnu “sqwvlk xdnmh jfo jzmbep,” bai qxtm.
Geyjcttcn or wgn brgrscqq Gxqaqg auvjx ka, ism htbjeeekxl xx nsmcdr cxnz cjcwy’p cmcf kc gh brixhlv, qbl io zzxe thejkrw empvwe o pmumlueo.
“Mnusvb apph kumrps vjcwunatm i jrcs srrdlwntcre yv xmojd tlarupplx are ecultimmz omgjdc ngt zozqwx lfjrcxmnt qjvmskdp,” ddqaavave Wihd. “Mkl tu ixd yygx fk hkfqy on.”
<k>Sghgaf ur Dzrxga’h Swypyxz buiwwlnjfyywq. Tzq bjymwy irtx <x yckh="cygys://gjcnwzh.teb/dzeaer_">@mcgzuo_</c></m>
<npubyh>Knksfnllkz:</cqvnfz> G ahccogaw nxwusfb nn otvk hmbwnxg apfkfp yedu Oqfuvgt mu xoykh sn Lipurw, kcro rv'o vqmybqae kxevs fj Axintpjwmu.

Miriam Partington

Miriam Partington was a senior reporter at Sifted, based in Berlin. She covered the DACH region and the future of work, and wrote Startup Life , a weekly newsletter on what it takes to build a startup.

Startup Life  newsletter

Startup Life newsletter

Wed

Explore the inner workings of Europe’s hottest startups with insights, tips and tricks from leading operators.