Companies worldwide are adopting a hybrid work schedule that combines in-office and remote work. By understanding the challenges of managing a hybrid team, you can better meet employee needs to help them contribute to your company’s success wherever they are.
What Is a Hybrid Work Schedule?
Under a hybrid work schedule, employees alternate between working remotely and in an office. Unlike traditional in-office work, a hybrid work schedule exists on a spectrum. Some approaches are more office-centric, and others focus on remote work first. Some common hybrid work schedules include:
- Two-three split: With this model, employees work in the office three days a week and two days at home — or vice versa.
- Remote first: Employees come into the office for specific needs, such as meetings, while they mainly work from home.
- Groups: This model divides the company into groups that rotate when they come into the office and work remotely.
- Pick and choose: Employees can choose whether to be fully remote or in the office. They can also opt for a hybrid approach of their own design, picking which days to be in the office and which to be fully remote.
How to Lead Through a Hybrid Work Schedule
Leaders need unique skill sets to effectively manage a hybrid team. Some steps you can take to improve your management style for a hybrid workforce include:
- Managing performance through outcomes, impact and ownership: A thriving hybrid environment relies on leaders setting clear roles and maintaining constant communication to ensure employees meet their goals.
- Building trust and togetherness: With a hybrid work schedule, you cannot walk the company floor to talk to all of your employees at once. It’s vital to hold regular check-ins through meetings, emails and other messaging systems to show you trust your employees and are there to help them if needed.
- Facilitating and engaging with teams: One of the best ways to boost employee engagement is to keep meetings short and use interactive tools like polls and informal competitions.
- Encouraging problem-solving as a team: Successful hybrid managers use a team-building mindset to solve problems and engage employees to aid in finding solutions.
Enhance Your Leadership Skills With The Center for Leadership Studies
The Center for Leadership Studies offers personalized learning solutions to help individuals become influential leaders in hybrid work environments. Our comprehensive learning solutions utilize the Situational Leadership® Model to enable leaders to match their behaviors with the performance needs of their employees. We invite you to contact us today to learn more about how we can help you lead through a hybrid work schedule!
