78% employees want organizations to invest in upskilling programmes for hybrid work models

The pandemic has completely changed the future of work, making it clear that hybrid work models are here to stay. To be effective and productive contributors in the hybrid workplaces of the future, professionals will need to evolve an essential set of cognitive, social and behavioral skills to navigate ever-new challenges.

Why is hybrid so appealing? It brings together the best of both worlds. Those who had a hybrid work model during COVID-19 had better mental health, stronger work relationships and were more likely to feel Net Better Off as a result of working for their organizations, found the Accenture Future of Work Study 2021. They also experienced less burnout than those who worked entirely onsite or entirely remotely. The study found that 63% of high-growth companies globally have already adopted a ‘productivity anywhere’ workforce model.

Now that it is established that hybrid work models are here to stay, the conversation in corporate culture is pivoting towards ways and means to make these models more effective. 78% of the 300 respondents in the Hybrid Readiness Survey 2022 in India said that their organizations should invest in programmes to help them become work-ready in the hybrid world.

HRS 2022 sheds light on the upskilling needs of working professionals. Harappa, an online institution for behavioural skilling, conducted HRS 2022 to gain insights into the most crucial “Thrive Skills” (i.e, cognitive, social and behavioural skills) that professionals must be equipped with in order to advance in their careers. The company has recently launched its tailored upskilling programme for Hybrid workplaces with two self-paced courses: Leading Others and Managing the Hybrid Workplace.

The participants in the survey were a diverse set of professionals at different stages of their career journey, spanning industries like pharmaceutical, IT, automobile, finance, education etc. 41% of the respondents were working fully remote, 37% were working in a hybrid setting, and only 22% reported to be fully back in office.

The survey uncovered the changing learning priorities of professionals in the workplace, both as individuals and as managers and leaders. Respondents across career stages — from CXOs to team members — agreed that skillful teamwork is their number one priority followed by taking ownership and learning agility. Fostering trust, collaborative orientation and productive delegation are the top skills that our respondents seek in their leaders.