Before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, approximately 20% of workers operated from home. Nowadays, this number has risen to 71% of workers working remotely. According to the Pew Research Center, 54% of workers would prefer to continue performing their duties remotely. Hybrid work models continue to gain popularity daily as they promote the much-required and sought-after work-life balance. Simply put, this demonstrates that hybrid work environments are the future of work and here to stay. Therefore, you must find ways to effectively lead hybrid teams in 2022 to increase productivity while guaranteeing quality.
Here are the top eight tips for leading effective hybrid teams in 2022:
1. Provide Team Members With The Right Tools
You must invest in the right tools and setup for all your remote workers’ unique circumstances. That may include timeclock software, webcams, high-speed Wi-Fi, and headsets for employees working from. In addition, you must consider the unique needs of each team working in your hybrid team model.
For instance, to effectively lead highly collaborative teams, including user experience (UX) teams, you’ll have to opt for creative solutions to guarantee effective collaboration. You could, for example, set up a laptop and webcam for your hybrid team members to conveniently attend all virtual ad-hoc meetings.
2. Set Individual And Team Goals
Establishing clearly defined goals is one of the most effective ways to successfully lead your hybrid team in 2022. More categorically, ensure you leverage a combination of team goals that advance the targets of your business. Also, include individual goals for all the members of your hybrid team, which aid them in advancing their personal development.
Moreover, ensure your goals are SMART, that is:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Attainable/Achievable
- Realistic
- Time-bound
If your goals are unclear, impractical to measure, or unreasonable, they can become a stumbling block. That’s why you must set SMART goals to provide your hybrid team with a sense of purpose and a clear focus on what’s needed.
3. Become A Hybrid Team Role Model
To effectively lead a hybrid team, you must be at the forefront yourself. Simply put, this implies you must demonstrate the kind of behaviors you want your team to have.
If your enterprise recently adopted a hybrid work model, team members will look at you as their role model while establishing best practices. From output expectations to meeting formats to communication styles, team members expect you to lead them from the front.
4. Leverage High-Tech Solutions
You must adopt the latest technology to support your hybrid team’s daily operations to streamline productivity while enhancing quality. For instance, high-tech solutions like digital whiteboarding can play a crucial role in assisting hybrid teams in exchanging ideas. Likewise, dual monitors can enhance multitasking capabilities, while USB-C monitors can help offer seamless connectivity between workstations.
5. Respect Your Team Members’ Time
Another tip for leading effective hybrid teams in 2022 is to respect your team members’ time. Also, avoid planning meetings at odd hours or for prolonged periods. By not eating up your remote workers’ time, you’ll foster a culture of responsibility and eventually achieve better performance and productivity.
6. Offer Flexible Work Schedules
Your company needs to be open to offering flexible work schedules to optimize its hybrid work environment. That implies hybrid team members can set their working hours once they discuss the matter with you or the managers. And so long as they adhere to the guidelines established by your enterprise, observe quality standards, and finish their tasks on time, that shouldn’t be an issue.
7. Develop An Online Platform Where Team Members Can Socialize
Developing an online platform for workers to socialize, have moments together, and talk about non-work-related matters can increase engagement for your hybrid team. In addition, you could plan a virtual gaming event for everyone to have fun and relieve themselves from daily work stresses. That will help you have a stress-free and more relaxed hybrid team that’s easy to lead and manage.
8. Promote Transparent And Open Communication
Communication is critical if you’re looking for effective strategies to lead hybrid teams in 2022. Thus, stay in touch with your colleagues by leveraging video calls whenever possible. Also, explore other communication channels, including email and phone calls. By embracing transparent and open communication, you can address any issue immediately to prevent further escalation of the matter.
Conclusion
Hybrid work models are the future of work, and you must adopt the right strategies to make this relatively new concept work for your business. You can leverage the above eight tips to lead effective hybrid teams in 2022.