The Future is Hybrid: Managing Hybrid Teams

As we shift from a fully remote to a hybrid working model, leaders and business owners are dealing with new workplace challenges. Time zones, availability, engagement, transparency, and company culture are just some of the things that need to be considered when adjusting to this new way of working. But when handled proactively, hybrid working can be a powerful arrangement that delivers the ultimate in productivity and employee empowerment.

Here’s how to get the most from your newly hybrid team.

Tips for Managing Hybrid Teams

Managing hybrid teams requires flexibility – and some out-of-the-box thinking. Here’s how to get everyone on the same page, even if they’re only sometimes in the same room.

• Define core hours. The beauty of flexible working is that not everyone is in the same place working the same 9-5. But having set hours during which the whole team is logged on makes it easy for everyone to catch up on communication and get those key deliverables sorted.
• Create shared calendars. Create a team calendar and make sure everyone blocks out the time they’ll be offline – whether planned or not. This lets your team know at a glance who’s available and when and makes scheduling simple.
• Set messaging boundaries. Establish norms around when messaging platforms can be used, and encourage team members to use status indicators to show when they’re busy, away, or free to chat.
• …and set work boundaries. WFH has normalized longer work hours and blurred lines between work/personal time. Make sure that your team members aren’t working around the clock – and regularly check in to make sure they’re not burned out or juggling too heavy a workload.
• Learn team preferences. Some people prefer to be completely remote, while others love to be “at the office.” The beauty of hybrid working is that you can accommodate different needs and preferences – and help your team work to their optimal capacity.
• Communicate always! Over-communication is far better than under-communication when you’re working with a distributed or hybrid team. Check-in, ask for feedback and encourage team members to speak up – including over private channels if they prefer.
• Prepare for hiccups. Home internet systems go down, weather events happen, and family emergencies can arise. Make it easy for people to check-in and provide an update if they’re going to be offline or out of the office – and so that the team has peace of mind that they’re safe.
• Create opportunities to connect. It’s easy for team members to feel overlooked or invisible in hybrid or remote situations. This is especially true for newer employees. Create opportunities – both work-related and recreational – for everyone to talk, connect, and share. This may mean coming together online or having the occasional team-wide gathering in a physical location.

Using Coworking to Your Advantage

If your team has been working this past year remotely, you might have had few opportunities to come together in one place. In addition to that, you might be questioning the overheads associated with a traditional office space. Coworking solves both of those problems. By providing a flexible, central hub for gathering and working, coworking spaces allow small businesses to optimize productivity – and worker satisfaction. Those who prefer to work “in person” can enjoy a designated area, while others can pop in for meetings, team events, water cooler talk – or even to take advantage of on-site amenities – as their schedule allows.

At Optimum Coworking, we’ve created a centrally located, fully amenitized space designed to empower high-performing individuals to work at their best. Our variety of seating arrangements, fully equipped board and meeting rooms, and an unrivaled selection of perks and benefits, including a state-of-the-art human performance center, ensure that your hybrid team has everything they need to excel. For more information, or to arrange a tour of our facility, get in touch!