Leadership in the Hybrid Workplace: 5 Strategies for Managing Hybrid Teams

‍What is the hybrid workplace?

In the wake of the global pandemic, the traditional office landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation. The increase in remote work has given birth to what many now refer to as the "hybrid workplace" – but when it comes to the thousands of people and companies I’ve spoken to, many companies define the hybrid working model slightly differently. So what does it really mean to manage a hybrid team?

Some see it as synonymous with remote work, with a handful of cities that they often hire from. Others see it as the flexibility for remote workers to come into the office or work from home whenever they want. Additionally, some have a more structured time frame of in-person working hours (i.e. you must come into the office Monday and Thursday), etc.

It’s most commonly and generally referred to as a dynamic environment where employees split their time between remote work and in-office collaboration. No matter how you define it, this shift has brought about new challenges and opportunities for leaders as they strive to navigate this evolving landscape with ease.

In this blog post, I'll explore strategies for success in leadership encompassing a bit more of a general definition of a hybrid work environment.

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5 strategies to manage a hybrid workforce:

1. Embrace flexibility:

While I’d argue that this strategy is equally important in a pure in-office setting, truly embracing flexibility is one of the key tenets of successful leadership in the hybrid workplace. It’s important to recognize that employees might have different preferences and needs when it comes to ‘back to office’ policies. After four years of adapting to remote work due to the pandemic, your employees created new routines for themselves that have now yet again been uprooted.

By allowing flexibility in scheduling and work arrangements, leaders can empower their teams to find a balance that works best for them and allows the business to focus on performance and less on where or when they’re working.

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2. Foster communication and collaboration:

Effective communication is essential in any workplace setting, but it becomes even more critical in a hybrid environment. Leaders should prioritize transparent communication channels and leverage technology to facilitate seamless collaboration among team members, regardless of their physical location.

These things can help bridge the communication gap between remote and in-office workers:

• Regular check-ins
• All-hands team meetings
• Shared project management tools
• Virtual team building activities

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3. Lead by example:

In the hybrid workplace, leaders must lead by example, demonstrating a commitment to productivity, culture, and work-life balance. If you’re going to ask everyone on your team to come into the office, you better be there too. But physical location aside, you will need to make an active effort to reinforce why it’s important to be together.

This should include setting up a good office environment with minimal distractions and good policies around limited interruptions, as well as organizing perks and events that help bond the team together, etc.

How to get started 👉 Learn tips on how to be a sensible and empathetic leader in a Mindful Leadership Workshop!

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4. Invest in creating and communicating policies:

You know your team the best, including how projects and communication flow. With that knowledge, you can set up a hybrid environment that accomplishes company goals while also offering flexibility. By standardizing core business hours, schedule blocking across your team, and understanding what days they’d prefer to work from home, you can create a new process and policy around the work week that serves everyone.

For example: Together, you all agree that Monday is kicked off with a virtual standup that plans out the week and projects ahead. Following that meeting is a get stuff done, WFH day. But on Tuesday you all come to the office for back-to-back meetings that require syncing.

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5. Cultivate trust and accountability:

Trust is the foundation of any successful team, and it becomes even more critical in a hybrid workplace where employees may be physically distant from their leaders and colleagues. At Confetti, we communicate that responsiveness is a characteristic of culture that is extremely important in building trust.

KPIs and output are ultimately what build accountability. By empowering employees to get the job done, while simultaneously giving them the autonomy to manage their own schedules and tasks, leaders can foster a sense of ownership and commitment that transcend physical boundaries.

How to get started 👉 Read our blog on 10 team building activities that build trust amongst employees! 

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Bring your hybrid team members together with Confetti! 🥳

Leadership in the hybrid workplace requires a blend of flexibility, communication, policies, and trust. By embracing these strategies, leaders can navigate the challenges of the hybrid workplace more effectively and create a culture of success, collaboration, and innovation for their teams.

As the workforce continues to evolve, adaptability and forward-thinking leadership will be essential for driving productivity and engagement in the hybrid workplace of the future.

Build connections between your hybrid and remote employees with team building activities! Check out Confetti's collection of hybrid-friendly experiences to get you started. 

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