As the business world continues to change and evolve, so does the way we work. With technology making it easier for employees to work remotely, many businesses are opting for a hybrid workplace model that allows employees to work both in and out of the office. While this new way of working can benefit both employees and employers, it can also be difficult to know how to be an effective leader. In this article, we’ll discuss some tips for being an effective leader in a hybrid workplace.
Establish Clear Goals and Responsibilities
There’s no denying that hybrid teams can be a real challenge to manage. With members located in different places, it’s not easy keeping everyone on the same page. That’s why hybrid team leaders need to set clear policies and goals. By doing so, you ensure everyone understands their role and knows what they should be working on.
Additionally, setting goals together as a team promotes team cohesion and well-being. When team members feel like they are working towards a common goal, they are more likely to feel engaged and motivated. So, if you want to be a successful hybrid team leader, set clear policies and goals. Your team will thank you for it!
Have Clear Office Expectations
Being a hybrid workplace leader comes with unique challenges. You need to be flexible and adaptable and have a clear vision for how your team will work together. One of the most important things you can do as a hybrid team leader is to set expectations for how often employees are expected in the office.
If you have regular team meetings, consider making attendance mandatory. However, if you want to encourage more creativity and collaboration, you may want to reserve the office for brainstorming sessions only. Establishing clear expectations will help your team members stay focused and productive, and it also promotes their well-being.
Develop Interpersonal Relationships
As hybrid leadership becomes more common, leaders need to find ways to create interpersonal time with their teams. In-house teams often have more comradery than they have with colleagues working remotely.
That’s not always a flaw, but leaders need to promote cohesive relations among all employees to avoid future silos. Here are some hybrid team leader tips for bridging the interpersonal divide:
- Socialize: Create opportunities for the team to remain socially connected during work hours. This doesn’t have to be anything too formal and can even take place outside of working hours; a happy hour or virtual game night is perfect. It’s a chance for everyone to let their guard down and get to know each other on a personal level.
- Check-In: Make it a point to check in with each team member regularly, even if there’s nothing work-related to discuss. This can be done via text, email, or even a quick phone call. The goal is to stay connected and build relationships of trust.
- Emotional Transparency: Be transparent about your thoughts and feelings. If you’re feeling stressed, let the team know. If you’re having difficulty making a decision, ask for input. Hybrid leadership is about being vulnerable and building a strong foundation of mutual understanding.
Be a Conscious Leader
As a hybrid leader, leading with empathy, care, and compassion is crucial. You need to actively support your team’s well-being and look at your team as individuals. Using the hybrid workplace as a working example of positive mental health and wellness is also important. To be a successful hybrid leader, you need to be a conscious leader. Conscious leadership is about being aware of yourself and your impact on others.
It’s about making decisions aligned with your values that support the collective good. When you lead with consciousness, you create a space for others to do the same. As a result, you build a strong foundation of trust, respect, and collaboration. To create a high-performing hybrid team, conscious leadership is essential.
Having the Tough Conversations
Good hybrid team leaders know how to have tough conversations, whether meeting in person or via video call. When you or any in-office team member needs to have a tough conversation with a remote team member, don’t do it via text. Conveying tone through a text message is a challenge and can lead to misconstrued context.
Instead, hybrid leaders facilitate hybrid team success by communicating difficult messages effectively and concisely in real time. This allows for productive problem-solving and mutual respect between team members, which are essential for any successful hybrid team. So if you want to be a better hybrid leader, don’t be afraid to have tough conversations face-to-face.
Avoid Micromanaging
Micromanagement is always problematic, but it can be a motivation killer for hybrid teams. When a manager micromanages, they are essentially telling their team they don’t trust them to do their job. This can lead to a decline in morale and motivation. Hybrid teams need to feel part of a cohesive unit to function effectively.
When a manager micromanages, they create an environment of distrust and division. If you are a hybrid team leader, it is important to learn not to micromanage — one of the biggest sins of past leadership styles. Doing so will create a more positive and productive work environment for your hybrid team.
Become a Better Hybrid Team Leader
Being a hybrid workplace leader is rewarding and challenging. On the one hand, hybrid teams offer the opportunity to build solid relationships and develop innovative solutions. On the other hand, they can be challenging to manage, particularly if team members are located in different time zones or have different work schedules.
Keep the following points in mind to be an effective hybrid workplace leader. It’s essential to establish clear communication channels and procedures. This ensures team members stay informed and collaborate effectively.
It’s also more important than ever to be flexible and adaptable, as team members may need to adjust their schedules or working hours to accommodate each other. At the heart of the modern hybrid leader is trust. It is crucial to build trust among team members, which creates a foundation for successful collaboration. By keeping these points in mind, leaders can set their hybrid teams up for success.
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September 20, 2022 at 10:27AM by Natasha Wallace, Khareem Sudlow
