Building Strong Relationships with Teams in a Hybrid Workplace

Hybrid workplaces have become increasingly prevalent after the pandemic. These create a positive office space where employees can follow flexible work arrangements based on their needs. Many prefer to work remotely for two to three days in the week and come to the office on the remaining days.

This has led to the introduction of hot desks, where the workstations are not allotted to one employee. Anyone from any department can use them to increase flexibility and collaboration.

However, movable furniture and open floor plans are insufficient for creating a cohesive team. Many managers find it challenging to monitor and interact with team members working from home. This can lead to rifts, unaccountability, and problems aligning individual tasks with business goals.

So, here is how management can focus on building strong relationships with the team in a hybrid workplace. It is essential for enhancing team spirit, employee engagement, and productivity.

1. Communicate With Your Remote Team Frequently

Strong relationships are based on good communication which requires meeting often. However, it is challenging with teams that are following the hybrid work arrangement. Thus, managers and other team members must make an effort to interact with others regularly because communication is effective in dealing with uncertainty in business.

If the employees cannot break the ice, the managers must schedule a casual and fun meeting every Friday to chat and mingle virtually. They can create discussion threads on the official chat groups and involve all the members to encourage participation and engagement. The human resource team can step in to make it entertaining by conducting online team-building activities through games and interactive sessions.

2. Utilise In-Office Days for Team Bonding

Unfamiliar team members may not be able to produce the same output as supportive and friendly colleagues. Thus, business owners must make the most of the time that employees spend in the office. They should organise brainstorming sessions for high-priority projects and huddle in meeting rooms to gather feedback on work in progress.

Building a sense of camaraderie among team members and managers reduces the risk of disagreements and disputes. It helps to bring everyone on the same page and work cooperatively. This works in favour of the entity when the entrepreneur decides to sell business online because buyers evaluate employee engagement and retention levels during due diligence.

3. Make the Employees Feel Valued

Often, hybrid and remote working arrangements lead to isolation and feelings of loneliness. It can become problematic to make the employees participate in activities when they are struggling with emotional and mental issues. Therefore, managers must hold in-person meetings with every member every month to understand their needs and desires.

They must be extended the support needed to perform better and provided opportunities to grow by identifying their strengths. It will make them feel connected to the organisation and willing to put in the hard work needed to grow as a team. They must be provided with appropriate training and tools to upgrade and upskill to increase their confidence and trust in the management.

4. Reward Remote Workers for Their Efforts

Out of sight is out of mind for most managers. So, when they have to appreciate employees for an outstanding performance, they forget those who are not in the office. It can make a serious dent in the confidence of remote workers and make them feel dejected. Thus, entrepreneurs must evaluate the performance of every individuals based on their KPIs and achievements during the quarter.

They must be appreciated and recognised in meetings to boost their morale and inspire others to follow their lead. Rewards and positive reception makes employees more dedicated towards accomplishment of business goals.

It makes them loyal to the organisation and strike a closer bond with the seniors while warming up to colleagues. These employees can become brand advocates and help sell business online when the entrepreneur wishes to retire.

5. Maintain Visibility in the Hybrid Workplace

When team members work remotely and want to communicate with others, they should not struggle to pass on messages. It is vital for every member to be available during the work hours and reply to missed messages on the chat as soon as possible. They should not use the business hours to run errands and keep others waiting for replies to emails and chats. It can be chaotic if they follow flexible timing along with hybrid working.

If they are stepping out because of an emergency or issue, they must inform their team members about their unavailability. They must showcase responsibility and should not waste the time of others. Responding to work emails on smartphones when they are on the move is a good way to tackle the problem. Employers must ask employees who do not follow the protocols of hybrid work arrangements to work from the office.

6. Encourage Collaboration Through Technology

Adopting the latest technology is necessary to maintain a competitive advantage in the industry and increase efficiency. The latest digital tools play a significant role in enhancing collaboration among remote workers by creating virtual meeting rooms and breakout zones. Cloud-based software allows accessing and sharing data without hassles and with full security even when working remotely.

Provide each member with virtual tools to communicate easily and effectively with anyone in the organisation. It is vital to introduce an open-door policy to ensure workers are able to express their views and opinions. It is helpful in making improvements and innovating through flow of ideas and receptivity.

7. Increase Transparency to Foster Inclusivity

Remote teams may find it difficult to trust other team members because of a lack of in-person interactions. Therefore, it is essential to increase transparency in communication to boost reliability and help build relationships. Management must take charge of sharing significant milestones and work-related information with all employees.

They must seek input from all team members while making vital decisions related to the organisation, such as planning to sell business online or adopting a new technology. They should offer equal opportunities to all the workers to make them feel included in the process and eager to contribute.

Wrapping Up

Building strong relationships is essential in a hybrid workplace to ensure worker cooperation and support. The tips mentioned above help create opportunities for teamwork and alliance among colleagues. Management must make an effort to foster relationships and strengthen their organisation.