For many, the hybrid work environment is a new experience brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to McKinsey Research, “the pandemic accelerated existing trends in remote work, e-commerce, and automation, with up to 25 percent more workers than previously estimated potentially needing to switch occupations.”
Major changes have rocked the world for over a year now, and whether you’re a remote work expert, a long-time hybrid worker, or brand new to the hybrid environment, it never hurts to brush up on hybrid work skills. That’s why Betterworks has compiled a list of key skills to help you efficiently meet your goals and successfully collaborate with your teams in a hybrid work environment.
Increase Your Communication
Remote work requires clear communication and a willingness to use remote communication tools. Whether your organization uses UberConference, Slack, Zoom, or other messaging and conferencing tools be sure to take advantage of the ability to quickly reach out and connect virtually.
By now, most organizations have implemented more than one remote communication tool, so it’s important that you also take the time to ask your teammates how they would prefer to be communicated with. Some co-workers prefer to communicate quickly over Slack, others prefer to keep track of conversations via email, and some prefer to talk through a problem via video chat.
Additionally, be mindful of how often you leverage easy-to-use tools to reach out to co-workers. For many, the hybrid work environment is new and come with a unique set of stressors. At Betterwokrs, we work to keep video chats to 30-minutes whenever possible in order to avoid Zoom fatigue and try to avoid scheduling video calls on Friday so teams can have time to work.
Enable Performance With Trust
According to Fast Company (and the Google study they were covering), “safety showed us just how important safety is for high-performing teams. Creating a psychologically safe work environment means team members feel comfortable speaking up, proposing creative ideas, and advocating for more change without the fear of being penalized or punished.”
It can be especially difficult to establish trust in a hybrid work environment. You may find yourself working closely with team members you’ve never met in person before – which is why it’s all the more valuable to get to know your teammates. Establishing personal trust takes a genuine effort and appreciation. Help your teammates feel seen and heard by leveraging tools to publicly acknowledge your co-workers’ hard work so they feel seen and celebrated.
Communication is also essential to building that all-essential trust. So make sure that any remote team members are feeling included by looping them in on any pertinent meetings or emails.
Keep Your OKRs Focused on the FACTS
Let’s face it, it’s not always easy to balance the demands of an evolving hybrid work environment. Messages can pile up in inboxes, Slack and other work messaging tools can quickly become a daily distraction, and Zoom fatigue is all too real!
Keep your team organized and aligned to their, and the organization’s goals, by keeping your objectives and key results focused on the FACTS:
- Focus and select the priorities that matter most
- Align your work to team efforts, departmental projects, and the overall mission
- Commit and establish a social contract that drives perseverance
- Track and facilitate a continuous reassessment process
- Stretch motivate yourself to do more than you thought possible
Keeping you and your team’s OKRs aligned to the FACTS ensures that prioritization is top of mind and all work is aligned with an organization’s strategy. With the great COVID job churn upon us, team alignment has never been more important. Make sure your team members are communicated with clearly, trust their work matters and that management cares about them and their goals, and ensure that work is meaningful and avoids any redundancies and waste by ensuring that objectives are strategic and results drive ROI and business results!
Hybrid work environments pose their own unique logistical challenges, learn more about how to plan for your hybrid environment in our latest guide.
To learn more about how Betterworks can help you drive business results in a hybrid work environment, reach out to one of our team members today.
