Hybrid workplaces are the future of work. They give employees the freedom to work wherever they choose, while also reducing feelings of isolation and encouraging collaboration. Not preparing your managers for a hybrid team can also cause unconscious biases to emerge, which can affect their performance. Also, they’ll be less productive if they don’t have the digital tools needed to do their jobs. Make sure your leaders and managers are well-equipped to lead a hybrid team. Doing so helps minimize the complexity of managing two teams while ensuring that your employees are performing well regardless of where they work.
1. Combat Proximity Bias
Proximity bias is a natural inclination that automatically favors people who are closer to you. It can also make you less likely to make a career choice based on where you live. Proximity bias can be subtle or intentional. It can make remote employees feel valued and wanted in the office. This can lead to low productivity and high turnover. Awareness is the first step in addressing proximity bias. It is also the first step to creating a culture that values diversity and inclusion.
Proximity bias can affect the performance of managers and their teams. Establishing an inclusive work environment that is fully distributed can help minimize this issue.
2. Optimize Your Onboarding and Training Programs for Hybrid Workplace Dynamics
Hybrid workplaces are becoming more prevalent. Both employees and managers need to be trained to work in this environment. They also need to be able to collaborate and hit their work goals. By creating a robust onboarding and ongoing training program, you can improve the effectiveness of both programs. By creating digital tools that allow you to deliver training in real time, you can help minimize the time spent on training sessions and improve the efficiency of your program.
3. Take Advantage of the Different “Places” and “Times” of Work
When it comes to working in a hybrid workplace, the words “place” and “time” often mean different things to different employees. For some, working from home may be more advantageous, while for others, it could be harder to collaborate and socialize in an office. There are advantages and disadvantages to different places of work. For instance, working from home can be more challenging and energizing than office work. However, working from an office can be easier and less restrictive.
The office is a place where employees can collaborate and socialize. Create an environment that encourages this type of behavior by designing your space to accommodate varying levels of interaction.
While the office is a more relaxing environment, having a home office is ideal for employees who can enjoy the freedom to do various activities outside of the office. Having the proper resources to support their home offices is also important to ensure that employees stay productive. When it comes to time management, employees should take advantage of both asynchronous and synchronous work to improve their efficiency.
4. Focus on Outcomes, Not Tasks
Creating a clear end goal and guiding your team toward achieving it can help them reach their goals without micromanaging them. The pressure to perform well and meet goals can also lead to a lower level of creativity and productivity. Instead of focusing on the small details of a job, set clear goals and timelines for employees.
- What is your main objective for this project?
- What organizational goal does this project relate to?
- What are your key performance indicators (KPIs)?
- What tangible benefit will we get when the project is over?
- Who is involved in the project and what are their roles?
- What resources (i.e. how much time and money) do you need to successfully complete this project?
- How will this project benefit your career development?
- What is your proposed timeline of events for this project, including specific tasks and due dates?
5. Invest in Technology for Better Communication and Collaboration
Creating a culture of collaboration among team members can help improve employee satisfaction and productivity. It can also lead to better business outcomes. Unfortunately, many companies fail to communicate effectively with remote workers.
The right tools can help you improve communication and collaboration across the organization. It can also help make hybrid workforce operations more meaningful for you.
- Slack
- Confluence
- The Google Suite
- Zoom
6. Develop a Culture of Feedback
Feedback sessions help employees improve their work performance and are often the best tools for managers to reduce employee burnout. Feedback is very important for hybrid companies that want their employees to continuously improve. However, remote workers also need intentional feedback to know that they’re doing their jobs well.
Aside from making sure that your managers are good at giving feedback, also, you need to enable them to have regular discussions with their team members. This can be done through the use of various tools and methods.
Check out our Talent Management in Hybrid Workplace Masterclass!
