Team management in a hybrid work environment requires careful planning and clear communication because, being remote, relationship management is different and we are not used to it.
Hybrid work models offer the opportunity to combine remote and on-site work so you can tap into the best of both worlds.
This pandemic-fueled model appears to have widespread and long-term appeal: In a March 2021 Accenture survey of more than 9,300 professionals worldwide, 83% of respondents said they would prefer a hybrid work model in the future.
All hybrid business models share a common denominator: flexibility for both individuals and the organization as a whole.
But "flexible" shouldn't be meant by "improvised".
The hybrid work model requires well-defined structures and consolidated team management. Coherence and cohesion are essential; without both of these two aspects, you run the risk of essentially having two (or more) separate companies: one that works on site and one that works from home.
People who managed teams in person before the pandemic and then moved on to work from home will need to rethink and revise some of their previous habits to work more effectively.
We have collected some tips from global HR experts to effectively manage the hybrid work model.
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1 - Schedule calls and video calls regularly 2 - Choose a corporate communication system 4 - Foster a collaborative and safe environment 5 - Use the right tools
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Managers say clear and straightforward communication is necessary when not working in the office, as a lot of information can be misunderstood or taken for granted.
This is why we have identified 5 tips to keep in mind.
1. Schedule calls and video calls regularly
In working remotely, it is vital to communicate frequently and regularly. It will help everyone to stay aligned, check the progress of projects and activities and respect deadlines. This is why punctuality is important and it is important to avoid postponements. Sharing an agenda of the points to be addressed will help make the virtual meeting more effective and productive.
2. Choose a corporate communication system
Regardless of the systems you choose to use, try to be consistent - make sure your team members have a centralized system to communicate as a group. For example, we use Slack for chats, while for internal telephone communication, of course, we have our cloud PBX that allows us to communicate for free wherever we are with mobile and desktop app.
There are a million alternatives, but the important thing is to make choices and keep them consistent over time, so you don't have to start all over again every time. Whatever your solution, use a platform that allows your team's internal communication to be more productive than the simple (and dispersed) exchange of emails.
3. Shared calendar
The shared calendar helps to have an overview of group commitments and can serve as an editorial calendar or as an appointment management. In this case it really depends on the type of project but consider this option if you have many shared activities and appointments in your remote team.
4. Foster a collaborative and safe environment
To effectively manage your team, you need to make sure you have created a safe and collaborative environment as in agile work it can sometimes be difficult to feel included.
When people do not feel included, they do not feel comfortable speaking and giving their contribution, thus penalizing teamwork and team spirit.
To build psychological confidence in a remote meeting, be sure to give everyone a chance to speak, by asking everyone specific questions, in order to stimulate conversation and help your employees feel confident in communicating and expressing their ideas with the others.
5. Use the right tools
What are the tools needed for remote work?
- CRM
First of all you need a CRM to collect all the data and information about customers and potential customers.
After that it will be important to give the whole team tools that can work remotely, and that integrate perfectly with your CRM system: in this way they will be able to provide all customers with the right solutions.
- Cloud storage platforms
The abandonment of the concept of face-to-face work has made the use of cloud services almost inevitable. The restrictive measures imposed to deal with the health emergency have intensified the need for remote storage to share documents and files extremely quickly.
Here are some examples of cloud platforms: Mega, Google Drive, Dropbox.
- Communication systems
We have already mentioned tools like Slack, which allow you to communicate and always stay in touch with your team in real time and shortening distances. Then there are other tools and applications that allow you to effectively manage internal company communication. Each application has its own peculiarities, so you just have to choose the one that best suits the needs of your company and business.
- Cloud phone system
Thanks to the cloud phone system you can manage calls from the company landline even outside the office. You can make team video calls and manage everything from your control panel.
With the cloud PBX:
- There are no activation costs
- No maintenance
- You only pay for what you use
- No penalties
- A simple and intuitive control panel
- No technicians required to manage settings
The Voxloud PBX is all of this: flexibility and simplicity. Click below and enter the Voxloud world!
