Creating Successful Hybrid Teams

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"We like to give people the freedom to work where they want, safe in the knowledge that they have the drive and expertise to perform excellently, whether they are at their desk or in their kitchen. Yours truly has never worked out of an office, and never will,” Richard Branson

While we might not all have the luxury or the desire to never work in an office, today's reality is that many of us will no longer work in them or will work in them a lot less than before. Work is going hybrid, which means companies will and are already starting to adapt to combining office work with remote work.

Employees will be both local and remote. The shift poses advantages as well as challenges for organizations, which is why it's really important that leaders and managers invest time and energy into making sure they get the pivot right. 

So here are three ways companies can create successful hybrid teams:

#1: Involve remotes like they're local: Locally based employees are more physically visible, so it's easier to involve them because they're there. This is why it's super important to be intentional about involving remote employees. They need to feel involved in the work and made to feel part of the process so they feel motivated and engaged. 

#2: Ask your people for input: Engagement surveys is one way to get employee feedback. By asking employees how they feel about motivation levels, you're taking a temperature check and this is extremely important when transitioning from a fully office based team or a fully remote based team. Ask people how they're feeling and also what they'd like to see in terms of their vision of a hybrid team.

#3: Manage by results not activity: Communicate expectations so that everyone's on the same page and focus on results, not how 'busy' someone looks. Remote employees, will by design, be more out of sight, which is why it's important to measure success by output and results, rather than perceived busyness.  

Learn how to build thriving teams, by taking one of our excellent workshops below!

Remote Work in Action

This week we're highlighting a few interesting articles about remote working:
Building successful hybrid teams takes time, patience and dedication. Our blog and podcast are chalk full of excellent information about what it takes to foster trust, transparency and build resilience within teams so they can thrive. 

One of the best ways to convey ideas and encourage honesty and openness is through storytelling. A great way to get started is by using Kudo Cards.

Confidence is key for leaders to thrive and for teams to collaborate well and trust each other. Leaders with confidence also help build a positive culture at work. 

It's hard to create a positive work culture without healthy employees. Not only is it important to make sure your mental and emotional health is good, physical health is just as important. 

Are life events happening to you or for you? Todd Palmer says we need to change our language from a victim mindset to a growth mindset. 

The secret to pivoting positive, with David Ibarra. Overcome the lack of passion and learn that it's never too late to define your purpose. 

What it takes to build happier companies, with Michal Srajer. We spend one third of our lives at work, approximately 80,000 hours. We can and should choose how we spend that time. 

Management 3.0 Webshop

Build trust and collaboration among teams by having fun together and getting to know each other. The best way to do this is by playing games. Check out our Management 3.0 webshop for games such as Moving Motivators, Improv Cards and Delegation Poker, all excellent ways to get to know your colleagues in a fun and interactive way.