Five tips for managing a successful hybrid team
A few years ago, the idea of hybrid work becoming the norm was hard to imagine. Now, as a result of the COVID pandemic, more and more businesses are embracing this new normal and remote work is now an option that most workers expect rather than hope for.
There is countless evidence supporting the benefits of hybrid work to your business. A recent survey found that 63% of high-growth companies have already adopted a “productive from anywhere” model. In contrast, 69% of companies that oppose hybrid working reported negative or no growth during the research period.
It’s not all smooth sailing though. Many managers and business owners are finding that simply redesigning your office space and using a basic guide isn't enough for an efficient hybrid workplace. For this reason, it’s important to adopt some habits that will empower your hybrid team and enhance engagement.
1. Set clear rules
Unclear rules and an inefficient setup leave workers confused about when or why they should be in the office when they can simply work from home. Without a proper plan, these issues can affect your workers’ morale and your business.
To prevent this, you need to put clear guidelines in place that workers can refer to at all times. Rules covering which employees can work remotely, how often staff should be in the office, private desks and a coworking plan for completely remote teams should all be clearly communicated.
2. Enable easy schedule coordination
Socializing with coworkers is a powerful motivator for working in the office.
Nikolay Grachev, CEO of Yoffix says, "90% of clients confirm that their employees are motivated to come to the office only if they know they’ll meet coworkers there." Utilize this insight by making workers’ schedules transparent so it’s easy for them to plan office days together.
Yoffix’s desk booking tool is a very simple way to check and align seats, invite coworkers to meet up for coffee or lunch and even coordinate schedules on Slack. Using a management tool like this will make it easier for employees to socialize with each other at any time.
3. Introduce team office days
In larger companies, it’s tricky to maintain the collaborative spirit that is essential for teamwork. While everyone is welcome to work in the office at any time, creating a hybrid work plan that includes office days for teams and departments is a great way to encourage your staff to do so.
Encouraging all employees from the same team to work in the office on the same day is a great way for them to socialize and engage. It’s also beneficial to set aside certain days for multiple departments to work in the office so they can also get to know others outside of their hybrid team.
4. Create social rituals
With these changes, it’s important that you provide more opportunities for non-work-related socialization. Not only is it a great part of office culture, but it also strengthens connections even when colleagues aren’t working in the same place.
Companies that have strong social rituals consistently benefit in sales and talent retention. In fact, 54% of employees say a strong sense of community kept them at the company longer than they would have stayed. Research also found that 50% of positive changes in workplace communication patterns are a result of social interaction outside of work.
Adopt rituals that help staff to form personal connections with each other. A great example is a ‘rookie hour’ where new hires can give informal introductions to the rest of the company. Team socials like an online lunch event and game nights will also create a sense of community between workers despite them working remotely.
5. Optimize your hybrid model
To ensure that your hybrid work plan is running successfully, it’s important that you regularly monitor every related factor. Checking statistics on team attendance and levels of motivation, engagement and productivity, as well as employee feedback will help you make the right adjustments to keep your workplace running smoothly, even as your company grows. While you're at it, be aware of distance bias, a tendency to favor employees who are physically closer, which can affect engagement and productivity. Learn how to counteract distance bias in your hybrid team.
Of course, constantly monitoring the results while coordinating everything from remote work schedules to desk reservations can be a lot to handle. Yoffix allows you to streamline every aspect of your hybrid workplace on the same platform and lets staff book desks and coordinate meetings themselves. It also makes it easy for you to adjust your model based on data collected.
Sign up for a free trial today and experience the benefits that a custom hybrid work plan will bring to your business.
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