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Post pandemic hybrid work is a norm but perfecting hybrid culture is still a challenge, we all are figuring out how to increase engagement while avoiding burnout. Good planning, constant communication, co-working hours, and mandatory office days have helped us to take a step further but my question is, what else it's going to take to make it right for the people? Following are the 3 tips that are simple yet not straightforward as it needs constant leadership following:
#Tip1 Understanding your people's needs.
This is always my starting point, understanding your people and their needs. Yet you may find your people have very different preferences or working style, but these insights are going to help you in designing a successful hybrid work environment that works for all. But, the question arises how are you going to understand the needs of your people. I believe, they should be given more than one platform to give their feedback. This can be anonymous monthly Pulse Surveys or Feedback Box, or quarterly Townhalls or may be fortnightly Brown Bag Lunches. I have also observed best ideas come out from out of office engagements like team outings or non formal platforms like casual post office drinks.
#Tip2 Share what people have to say and be transparent.
Once you are able to understand the needs of your people, and you want to move to actions but before that I would suggest share results, be transparent about it. People always want to "what others have to say”; "they are curious about everyone’s opinion" isn’t it ? So I believe follow the route of transparency that always help you in the long term. Show them the results of the surveys/ feedbacks, be transparent about the voice of the people and make them understand that business action plans will be based on these results.
#Tip3 Take Actions and do follow up meetings
Now it's time to about considering and accommodating their needs. For example say some team members find that the full time isolation/working from home have a negative impact on their mental health whereas other may have caregiving duties or disabilities or some may want to do 50/50. Therefore, it's important to outline the needs of your people so you can make sure nobody is going to be at a disadvantage with the upcoming actions. Its important to have a follow up meetings with the stakeholders, line managers/ team leads to understand how your actions are impacting the people’s engagement. This can also be mapped with followup anonymous feedbacks.
#Tip4 Level up your communication
While we are doing all of this, level up your communication as working in hybrid culture needs more attention. We have to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to participate in a conversation and everyone understands the objective behind these conversations. We can achieve this through the following:
Don’t use slangs, make your communication easy and simple to understand.
Give them the right tools for communication and have more than one communication platform
Train and document the objective of each platform/channel, make it accessible to all
Set up the guidelines so that everyone understands what, how and when to use which channel.
Make them understand the meaning of personal space while working from home
Train and retrain your people that means constant reminder of usage of those platforms.
#Tip5 Develop belongingness via social events
Yes, for many, the workplace can be the only source of social connection, so, give your people an opportunity to spend quality time with each other and connect outside their teams. Plan team social events that boost the engagement, built team spirit and give your people an opportunity to socialise. This also help to build in belongingness in the organisation. In-person social events are always for the win, but we can also use gamification to have and a virtual "fun event", or breakout rooms to give your people some private time to chat.
Hybrid Culture is here to stay and perfecting hybrid culture requires an intentional mindset, a positive approach, and a steady communication of information.Hybrid culture is becoming the new norm, so stand out; by using these 5 tips. Make your hybrid culture a way to win your people's trust in return for better engagement and more efficient business outcome.
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