Hybrid Work and Team Collaboration

Hybrid Work is here to Stay

We believe that hybrid work (or versions thereof) is here to stay. Hybrid work refers to a work model where employees have the flexibility to work both remotely and in-person. Flexibility by its very nature is a challenge when it comes to fostering and managing team collaboration.

Gallup suggests that organizations are planning for their remote-capable workforce to include up to 55% hybrid workers.

Impact on Team Collaboration

Hybrid work increases the complexity of trying to work together. The process of working together towards a common goal, sharing knowledge, ideas and resources to achieve a goal becomes more difficult.

Here are some specific ways in which hybrid work has impacted team collaboration:

1. Communication Challenges: Hybrid work can create communication challenges, especially if some team members are working remotely while others are in the office. Communication technologies such as video conferencing and instant messaging can help to bridge this gap, but it can still be more difficult to communicate and collaborate effectively.
2. Flexibility in work schedules: Hybrid work can mean that team members work different schedules, which can make it difficult to coordinate collaboration efforts. Team members may need to work more flexible hours to accommodate each other's schedules.
3. Changes in team dynamics: Hybrid work can change team dynamics, as some team members may work more independently than others. This can make it more challenging to maintain a sense of team cohesion and collaboration.
4. Increased need for trust: Hybrid work requires a greater level of trust between team members, as they may not be physically present to oversee each other's work. Building trust can take time, especially if team members are new to remote working.

Strengths Approach

One way of reducing the negative impact of hybrid work is to build effective partnerships within teams. A good way to build partnerships is to use a strengths-based approach to teamwork. Creating effective partnerships within teams involves leveraging the strengths of individual team members to achieve common goals. Here are some ways to use strengths to build effective partnerships in teams:

1. Identify individual strengths: Start by identifying the individual strengths of each team member. Once identified, ensure that each team member is aware of their own strengths and how they can contribute to the team's success.
2. Encourage collaboration: Encourage team members to share their strengths with each other. This will allow team members to learn from one another and understand how best to complement each other.
3. Assign roles based on strengths: Assign roles and responsibilities within the team based on individual strengths. This will ensure that team members are working on tasks that are best suited to their abilities, which will increase productivity and reduce frustration.
4. Foster a positive team culture: Create a positive team culture that values collaboration and recognizes individual contributions. Encourage team members to provide feedback to each other and recognize each other's achievements.
5. Encourage open communication: Encourage team members to communicate openly and share their ideas and perspectives. This will help to build trust and strengthen relationships within the team.

By leveraging individual strengths to foster collaboration, you can create effective partnerships within teams that drive success and help achieve common goals. Complementary partnerships allow for team members to embrace the flexibility of hybrid work, without the downside of remote working. Such partnerships involve working more effectively together, regardless of the work model used, which can lead to improved efficiency, innovation, and overall performance.