How to Collaborate in Hybrid Workplaces

A reality check from my decade coaching Fortune 500 leaders: The data is undeniable: -Approximately 41% of U.S. employees with jobs that can be performed remotely are engaged in hybrid work arrangements, working from home some days and from the office on others. Pew Research Center -Companies that cultivate strong hybrid work cultures often experience lower turnover rates, as flexible work arrangements contribute to higher employee satisfaction and loyalty. -Leaders who effectively manage hybrid teams by focusing on outcomes and fostering inclusivity tend to see enhanced team performance and engagement. McKinsey & Company The most successful hybrid leaders aren't attempting to replicate traditional office culture in a virtual setting. Instead, they're pioneering entirely new frameworks tailored to the hybrid model. Three Proven Strategies from Top-Performing Clients: 1. Digital-First Communication Architecture -Prioritize asynchronous communication to respect diverse schedules. -Allocate synchronous meetings for meaningful collaboration. Result: Notable reduction in meeting fatigue, leading to more productive work hours. 2. Core Hours Framework -Establish designated overlapping hours across time zones for real-time interactions. -Protect blocks of time for deep, focused work. -Implement documented decision-making processes to maintain clarity. Outcome: Accelerated decision-making processes and heightened employee engagement. 3. Connection Catalysts -Create intentional opportunities for relationship building. -Organize structured informal interactions, such as virtual coffee chats. -Rotate team members in these activities to foster cross-functional collaboration. -Impact: Strengthened team cohesion and improved cross-departmental communication. Takeaway: Leading hybrid teams effectively requires a focus on outcomes rather than processes, building trust over surveillance, and ensuring clarity to prevent misunderstandings. Don't miss this opportunity to transform your leadership approach for the hybrid era. #HybridLeadership #RemoteWork #LeadershipDevelopment #TeamBuilding #FutureOfWork

Kickstart Success: Making Hybrid Kickoffs Work Here is the situation: half of your team is in the office, the other half is scattered across the globe in home offices, coffee shops, and co-working spaces. Sound familiar? Welcome to the hybrid world. Running a seamless project kickoff with a hybrid team isn’t just about connecting people on a call. It’s about uniting them with a shared vision and making sure everyone feels heard—whether they’re sitting in the room or on Zoom. Here’s how you can make it work flawlessly: 1. Set the Stage Early ↳ Send an agenda ahead of time. ↳ Include expectations, goals, and key discussion points. ↳ Give everyone time to prepare. 2. Be Inclusive From the Get-Go ↳ Start with a check-in that includes everyone. ↳ Use icebreakers that work for both in-person and virtual attendees. ↳ Make sure remote voices aren’t left behind. 3. Leverage Tech That Bridges the Gap ↳ Use collaborative tools like digital whiteboards. ↳ Encourage everyone to contribute—in person or online. ↳ Test all tech beforehand to avoid hiccups. 4. Clarify Roles and Responsibilities ↳ Assign clear roles during the meeting. ↳ Ensure everyone knows their part in the project’s success. ↳ Accountability drives engagement. 5. End With Clear Next Steps ↳ Recap decisions made and actions to be taken. ↳ Assign owners to tasks and set deadlines. ↳ Follow up with a summary email so no one’s left guessing. According to a survey by Microsoft, 73% of workers want flexible remote options to stay, but 67% also want more in-person collaboration. Finding that balance is key to successful kickoffs. A great hybrid kickoff isn't just a meeting. It’s an experience that unites, motivates, and aligns your team—wherever they are. Have you run a hybrid kickoff before? What worked well? What didn’t? Drop your thoughts below! 👇

START WITH THE END IN MIND Everyone’s schedules have changed, and they have new norms in their professional and personal lives. Understand what those norms are and plan your team’s work around these commitments for both in-person and virtual work. In our hybrid workplace, reading carefully is the new listening and writing and speaking clearly is the new empathy. Further, thriving at work will be much easier if you communicate your expectations and needs with your team and leaders. Create communication norms around collaboration. Here are some examples: -For smaller meetings, leaders should review the employees’ availability on their calendar before scheduling a call as a sign of respect. -If someone can’t do a call on Friday afternoons, make sure that is noted in yours or the team’s calendar and respected. -If you need the daily 15 min touchpoint at 10am ET instead of 4pm ET because you are picking your kids up from school, make that known! -If you want a response to an urgent message after hours, agree on using a phone call or labeling an email with URGENT to align. But if it’s really urgent, then text and let them know who you are (texts don’t have caller ID) instead of leaving a voicemail. -If you have 3 reply all emails and haven’t resolved an issue, switch to a phone call.

Last week I mentioned implementing programs like "Food for Thought" to encourage brainstorming and outside-the-box thinking, as it relates to creating a culture of communication and feedback. Before the pandemic, I used to bring in breakfast, lunch or an afternoon snack and call the meeting Food for Thought where I would get feedback from the team on what is going well and what are the opportunities for improvement. Here are some ideas to incorporate this in a #hybridworkforce: ✅ Virtual Coffee Chats: Schedule virtual coffee sessions where team members can gather online and have casual conversations. This informal setting encourages open discussions and allows for sharing ideas and feedback. ✅ Collaborative Document Sharing/ Online Idea Forums: Utilize collaborative document-sharing tools such as Google Docs or Microsoft Teams to encourage real-time collaboration. Team members can contribute their ideas, provide feedback, and collectively work on projects or problem-solving tasks. ✅ Virtual Brainstorming Sessions: Conduct virtual brainstorming sessions using video conferencing tools. Facilitate interactive discussions where team members can share their ideas and engage in creative problem-solving exercises. ✅ Surveys and Polls: Use online survey tools to gather feedback from team members on specific topics or projects. Surveys can be anonymous to ensure open and honest responses, and the results can be shared and discussed during team meetings. ✅ Virtual Team Building Activities: Organize virtual team-building activities that encourage collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving. These activities can include virtual escape rooms, online trivia games, or team challenges that promote communication and thinking outside the box. Remember, the key is to provide opportunities for active participation and engagement, regardless of the physical location of team members. By embracing technology and fostering a culture of open communication, you can create a collaborative environment conducive to generating new ideas and seeking feedback. Which idea do you like the most? #hybridsales #communication #culture #hybridwork