Creating high performance teams in a hybrid work environment
By Jarrod Chesher and Rachel Scott
More and more businesses are moving to a hybrid work environment. This can mean many different things - working from home, working in different locations, or a combination of both. The advantages of a hybrid work environment are clear: employees have more flexibility and can balance their work and personal lives better. However, creating and optimising a high performance team in this type of environment can be tricky.
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Identify the team's goals
What does the team need to accomplish? Once you have a clear understanding of the team's goals, you can start to put together a plan of action. This plan should include both short-term and long-term goals, with flexible execution based on the expected dynamics of the environment.
Identify strengths and weaknesses
Identify the team's strengths and weaknesses, taking into consideration their chosen working environment. What are each member's strengths and how can they be leveraged to achieve the team's goals? Who in your team prefers to work uninterrupted? And who requires collaboration to work effectively? These environmental preferences will influence your work plan and schedule.
Put together a task plan and schedule
This schedule should have clear performance expectations and timelines and should include both work time and personal time. It's important to remember that not everyone works at the same pace or has the same availability.
Establish clear communication channels
In order to set expectations and achieve outcomes, you need to establish clear communication channels. With a hybrid work environment, it's likely that team members will be working in different locations. This means that communication needs to be clear and concise.
For effective communication strategies, check out our article: 5 steps to Encourage Productive Communication about problems in the workplace.
There are a number of ways to do this, such as video conferencing, chat tools, and project management software. The best way to keep a team connected is by ensuring there are frequent check-ins, being clear about objectives and goals, and using video conferencing for meetings.
It's important that everyone on the team feels like they have a stake in the success of the project, so make sure to give everyone a chance to contribute.
Don't forget to have a little fun!
Although it might seem like there's more work to be done when everyone is remote, it's important to take breaks and build authentic relationships outside of work. Plan virtual happy hours, coffee dates, or game nights so that everyone can relax and recharge.
By following these tips, you can create a high performance team in a hybrid work environment that can take advantage of the best of both worlds. With clear goals, expectations, and communication, your team can thrive no matter where they're working from. And remember that not every team is the same, so don't be afraid to tailor these tips to fit your team's needs.
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