Kim Rader How Do We Build Effective Hybrid Teams?
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How Do We Build Effective Hybrid Teams? [Greeting] Effective teams are the cornerstone of great work. One study suggests that camaraderie is more motivating than compensation, finding that 20% of employees feel their peers are the reason they would “go the extra mile.” And motivation isn’t the only benefit: From better problem solving and increased innovation to happier team members and enhanced personal growth, successful teams enjoy wide-ranging personal and professional advantages. However, with as many as 70% of remote-capable employees working exclusively from home during the pandemic, concerns about the impact of remote work on collaboration, mentorship and social connection have been top of mind for our clients. As companies continue to implement hybrid work schedules, how can we help build effective distributed teams? Collaboration in the workplace has grown by 50% since the mid-2000s, along with a vast suite of digital and physical tools to support it. But even the best collaboration tools do not guarantee success; culture, both at the team and organizational level, plays a key role in setting norms and establishing psychological safety to enable effective communication. Regardless of whether team members are in the office or at home, leaders can set the tone by encouraging experimentation and risk-taking, framing mistakes or failures as opportunities to learn and grow. Expressing recognition or praise towards colleagues—in an email or in person—can improve quality of work and reduce absenteeism and turnover. In establishing norms like these from the top-down, all team members can feel included and empowered, regardless of their work location.
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Source: The Five Keys to a Successful Google Team
The shift to hybrid work reinforces that the way we work is continuously evolving. As we pivot to new working models, we are supporting clients globally with strategies to help them successfully transition to a new hybrid future. If you’d like to discuss our services further, I’d be pleased to set up a call. Best, [SENDER NAME]
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Credit: Ling Zhong, Perkins Eastman
Source: Harris Poll survey commissioned by Microsoft on May 26-30th, 2020
With a shift to hybrid working styles, companies are now compelled to create technological, spatial, and behavioral solutions to ensure an inclusive, collaborative environment. Community bias, an obstacle to building meaningful relationships, is often magnified with hybrid work arrangements. In hybrid settings, all team members may struggle to build relationships. While remote workers can feel left out of meetings, in-office workers can feel like they’re missing in-person access to remote co-workers and mentors. Over time, rifts can form between workers who are primarily inoffice and those who are primarily remote.
One study from Microsoft suggests that when all team members participate virtually in meetings, remote employees feel more included. Many companies are now adopting policies to “level the playing field,” making meetings virtual for everyone if remote employees join. Communication etiquette is also an essential piece of this puzzle. Pre-determined cues can signal when an individual is done speaking or would like to speak, and meeting hosts can encourage attendees to take turns to allow everyone in the room—virtual or physical—to speak.
1. Lead with empathy 19
2. Establish team norms
3. Design for teams, not location
Creating feelings of safety and trust is key to successful teambuilding. Demonstrating empathy allows everyone to communicate, focus, and recharge in ways that best supports each individual, ultimately serving the team over the long run.
All teams need to create their own “communication guide”— clear expectations that outline how and when team members interact personally. Reflecting team traits, personalities, and preferences in these guidelines around scheduling and meeting will help ensure successful adoption.
Use the physical arrangement of space, furnishings, and technology, including wide-angle cameras and standing desks, to capture body language and subtle gestural cues that support communication during video calls.
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