What skills do you need to lead a hybrid team?

Of course having strong communication skills will not only help you in leading hybrid teams, but makes you succeed. In a hybrid team, it’s important for the leader to know when to switch from email to IM, or hold a video call one to one or even hold a conference call. As a leader, you need to understand your team dynamics and preferences between your members especially in a lean team and relate with each as it may give a better result

Effective communication in a hybrid team involves multiple factors. It is paramount to prioritize clarity and consistency, utilizing diverse channels such as video calls, chat apps ( Slack, Teams), and email. Regular updates and setting clear expectations are vital for keeping the team aligned. Encouraging two-way communication fosters collaboration, and adapting to varied preferences ensures inclusivity. Providing constructive feedback and having tech-savvy skills are essential for successful leadership in a hybrid environment.

Communication needs to be intentional. Prepare a communication plan that outlines how the business communicates to the employees, how employees communicate to the business, and how the employees communicate with each other. If you don't have a communication plan, a first draft can be created very quickly by outlining the activities you are doing today. That sets you up for reviewing and revising the plan on an interactive basis. Not only will it give your team some structure, it's a great document to share with a new employee, who may be new to the hybrid model.

Strive to proactively include team members in strategy and planning efforts through the use of futurespectives (a retrospective that's held in advance, not after). By asking for feedback early, team members can have ownership in the process. Futurespectives help drive collaboration, team building, and buy-in. Plus, they help identify areas where you need to manage expectations. If you can't get everyone to the office for the meeting, tools like Miro provide a suitable replacement for walls and post-it notes.

¿Acaso se gana un partido de baloncesto en soledad? Por muy bien que tires a canasta, no te dejan ni salir a cancha. Necesitas 5, al menos. Lo mismo pasa en el mundo corporativo. La colaboración no es algo opcional, la complejidad del entorno es tal que esto es un "must". Es cierto lo de equilibrar y a la vez, que cada miembro del equipo asuma la responsabilidad con esta actitud.

Sí, sí... absolutamente cierto y a la vez, todavía más atractivo si logramos crear complicidad. Equipos donde pueda pasar el balón sin mirar. Si el otro acierta, fantástico y si no, ahí estaré para ayudarle. No para recriminarle, culpabilizarle o buscar segundas agendas. La complicidad me lleva con naturalidad a presuponer la intención positiva, a acercarme y a ponerme a disposición del toro para ayudar.

Goals should be SMARTER goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound, Evaluated, and Reviewed. Setting these goals at the begining will help with effective communication of expectations as well as serving as a useful tool for monitoring performance.

Fíjate, en mi experiencia, yéndome al extremo diría: es necesario tener las mismas que presencialmente pero elevadas a la "n" potencia. Es decir, tremendamente amplificadas. Líder, ¡a por ello!