If the pandemic has taught us anything about work, it's that culture has changed, and we are enjoying a newfound freedom; freedom to work in environments that best suit our lives outside of work, and to have meetings how we want them. This has resulted in great rises in productivity (72%) but not without expense, as 34% admit to feeling less creative while working from home, according to new research from HP Inc., which surveyed the feelings of UK office workers on hybrid working environments. 

 

This drop in creativity can be attributed to colleagues having less day-to-day interaction with each other (51%), fewer or no face-to-face brainstorming sessions (45%), and generally less confidence in their own ideas, and lack of ability to seamlessly bounce off others (37%). Furthermore, when working from home people experience less stimuli from surroundings (39%), can result in a lack of visibility that meetings are taking place (29%), and experience tech issues which mean they struggle to be heard (18%). In general, 27% are feeling less collaborative.

Leading business psychologist, coach and founder of DH Consulting, Dannielle Haig, commented: “Hybrid working is here to stay, yet whilst productivity has improved, quality collaboration has suffered. We thrive from interacting with other people, we like to feel like we’re part of a community and in turn, that opens our mind and way of thinking, which boosts creativity.”

Further to this, Loretta Li-Sevilla, Head of Future of Work, Collaboration and Business Incubation, said: “From our research, one in five of UK workers find that technology impacting meetings online is one of the main roadblocks for achieving quality collaboration in the new hybrid world. Technology has a critical role to play in rescuing quality collaboration and businesses must be equipped with the right tech, so that people are both seen and heard, regardless of where they choose to work.”

Further findings from the research include:

·         49% say working and living in the same environment has caused a drop in creativity

·         Half (48%) of younger people (18-24) feel their creativity has dropped since working from home compared to just 19% of those over the age of 55  

·         15% feel that not being able to see people’s body language and facial expressions properly when sharing ideas can have an impact on the quality of collaboration 

·         18% of people agree that background noise disrupting online calls is the most difficult thing to put up with when working from home. 

·         13% of people say they are hesitant when it comes to contributing their ideas

·         19% blame issues with technology as the main roadblock when it comes to achieving quality collaboration, whilst 15% blame feeling alone at home

While we have embraced a new work-life balance, with our working weeks split between days working in the office, and working remotely, it seems we have yet to fully transition and settle into the new hybrid approach. This, in part, is down to slow adoption of the right technology.

The companies that will thrive in the new world of work are those that embrace the fact that collaboration doesn’t just happen within arms’ reach. Companies that get their technology right, both in their offices, and for remote employees, will attract top talent and reap the benefits of creativity, inclusiveness, and innovation.

HP Inc. is expanding its hybrid working solutions with the introduction of HP Presence. HP Presence gives you a better way to share ideas and thoughts, together - whether you are in the physical meeting room or not. With its premium level audio, intelligent cameras, and easy room set-ups; meetings, workshops, catch-ups, and collaborative working sessions are once again a space where quality collaboration can happen whether you choose to work

  

West Midlands:

·         75% feel more productive when working from home

·         43% admit to feeling less creative while working from home

·         Less day-to-day interaction with colleagues is causing a drop in creativity (34%)

·         Fewer or no face-to-face brainstorming sessions is causing a drop in creativity (32%)

·         The lack of ability to seamlessly bounce ideas off others is causing a drop in creativity (28%)

·         Experience less stimuli from surroundings (32%)

·         Have a lack of visibility that meetings are taking place when working remotely (30%)

·         Are experiencing tech issues which mean they struggle to be heard (20%)

·         26% feel less collaborative when working remotely

·         36% say working and living in the same environment affects their creativity

·         10% feel that not being able to see people’s body language and facial expressions affects their creativity

·         16% of people say they are hesitant when it comes to contributing their ideas when working remotely

·         19% blame issues with technology as the main roadblock when it comes to achieving quality collaboration, whilst 14% blame feeling alone at home

  

The research for HP was carried out online by Opinion Matters throughout 01/04/2022 to 05/04/2022 amongst a panel resulting in 1,507 UK working adults (18+) responding. All research conducted adheres to the MRS Codes of Conduct (2010) in the UK and ICC/ESOMAR World Research Guidelines. Opinion Matters is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and is fully compliant with the Data Protection Act (1998).