Why “Hybrid” is Us

Summary

The concept of "hybrid" has become pervasive in various aspects of life, reflecting a shift towards flexibility and nuanced choices in retirement, work environments, parenting styles, and personal habits.

Abstract

The article discusses the prevalence of "hybrid" models in today's society, extending beyond hybrid vehicles to encompass lifestyle choices. It highlights the emergence of the hybrid retiree, who may partially retire, the hybrid workplace that combines remote work with on-premise presence, and the hybrid parent who adopts a subtle approach to child-rearing. The author suggests that the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of hybrid living, which includes making nuanced choices rather than committing to absolutes. This shift towards hybridity is seen as a way to maintain balance, efficiency, and personal fulfillment in an increasingly complex world.

Opinions

The author believes that the term "hybrid" has broadened significantly, now representing a blend of traditional and modern approaches in various life aspects.
There is a sentiment that full retirement may become a necessity rather than a choice for some, due to economic factors like layoffs.
The workplace is expected to continue embracing a mix of remote and in-office work, with a preference for remote work but still valuing face-to-face interactions for collaboration and relationship building.
Parenting styles are evolving to be more hands-off, allowing children to discover truths at their own pace, with parents guiding from the background.
The author suggests that making definitive choices is seen as outdated, and that society now values subtlety and the ability to hedge bets in decision-making.
The article implies that the trend towards hybrid living was already underway before the COVID-19 pandemic, which merely served to solidify these practices.
The author playfully questions whether the term "hybrid" could be applied to all aspects of life, including humor, and invites readers to consider their own "hybrid moments."

In All Parts of Life

Austin Park — Unsplash

It seems like everywhere we go, we are surrounded by the concept of hybrid. First, it was the hybrid vehicle. It made sense. We could travel efficiently, be good to the environment, and save some money on gas.

But “hybrid” now means so much more in our daily lives. For example:

The hybrid retiree: So many people have one foot in, and one foot out of the workforce. For some, it is a choice. For others, the choice was made for them. “I am going to retire, but not fully,” said one friend to me recently. Another shared, “I miss being involved, so I am going back into the workforce, but only somewhat.” These comments were shared before the massive layoffs and so some “hybrid intentions” might not stay hybrid at all. Full retirement might become a new and unfortunate reality for many.

The hybrid workplace: In my recent interviews, I heard a repeated theme that the workplace will be some mix of remote and on-premise, with a tilt towards remote. Companies can save money. Employees can have the flexibility and comfort of a remote setting while still sometimes going to the company office. Brainstorming and collaborative problem solving are still viewed as being done better when it is a face-to-face interaction. The energy is higher. We can read people better. We hopefully build better relationships.

The hybrid parent: As we parent our kids, we recognize the value of doing it in the softest way possible. My parents didn’t practice subtlety in parenting me, but they had sound judgment and fortunately, I listened. Today, we believe the power comes from our children discovering their truths for themselves, at a pace that works for them. That often leaves us standing at the back of the stage — or hiring a coach to help them. We don’t shirk the job, but we understand our status is different.

Doubling down on a choice — whether it is to retire or not, to work remotely or not, to be a vocal parent or not — seems like a dated strategy that does not work in our world today. We prefer nuance, subtlety, even hedging our bets.

It’s kind of like my answer to the question, “Do you eat meat?” I explain, “Yes occasionally, but I prefer vegetables and fish.” Does the expression “neither fish nor fowl” work here as a lame double-entendre? Can we call jokes that only have a hint of humor, “hybrid jokes?” Is there an aspect of our lives where “hybrid” doesn’t apply?

It is true that our move towards hybrid living was in the works before covid-19. The virus, however, has made us fully groove these muscles, and our world will continue to add complexity and shades to the choices we make.

Do you have a hybrid moment to share? Have “hip” and “hybrid” become synonyms, and if so, how hip are you?

Signed… A work-in-progress