Author: Constantin Măgdălina, Expert Trends and Emerging Technologies

Our places of employment are obviously more fluid than they have ever been as we look to the future. Employers allow team members to work from home and come into the office only on certain days. Because of this, teams' dynamics may change from day to day, necessitating careful management. It is crucial for the leader to be in the driver's seat to lead a hybrid team successfully.

1. What distinguishes hybrid teams from remote teams?

The majority of businesses mix up hybrid and remote teams. Why? Because of the misunderstanding that hybrid team members can only work more quickly in an office setting. Working in a hybrid environment, however, does not prevent the team members from working remotely. Let's understand how a hybrid team differs from a remote team:

2. What are the challenges of hybrid work?

The world of hybrid working is one that is constantly changing and evolving. Workforce development and retention are the main areas of focus.

Being a new way of working, hybrid working has its own set of difficulties. The shifts in work paradigms have created a range of opportunities and challenges, including how to best attract, retain, and engage employees while giving them the value and meaning they now demand from their jobs.

As hybrid teams become the standard in terms of the organizational structure that most businesses use, there are growing concerns that fundamental company culture is being lost.

3. What is the secret to managing a hybrid team?

It is by no means simple to manage hybrid or remote teams. Managers must simultaneously work with two radically different working styles. There are the employees who work remotely from various locations and the employees who are physically present in the office.

That prompts people to wonder: ”how should one manage hybrid teams successfully? how can one ensure alignment and create a productive and enjoyable work environment for every team member?”.

The top five best practices for managing hybrid teams are as follows:

• To ensure effective time management, establish a clear calendar for the team.
• To set up a good work management, establish a system for team collaboration.
• To ensure clarity of messages, over-communicate and leave things unsaid.
• To integrate change smoothly, they are always prepared for unexpected events.
• To prevent burnout, ensure that the entire team adopts a balanced work style..

In conclusion

A hybrid workplace will give people the opportunity to experience a different way of working. On the other hand, managers must find solutions to new and old problems. They must be ready to face the present and future difficulties.

In general, managing a hybrid team involves striking a balance between in-office and remote employees. With the right technology, excellent communication skills, delegation and feedback techniques, and clearly defined roles and tasks, a hybrid team can work extraordinarily well.

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About Constantin Magdălina

Constantin Măgdălina has 15 years of professional experience, during which he worked for multinational companies, both in the country and abroad. Constantin has a Master's degree in Marketing and Communication at the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies. He is LeanSix Sigma and ITIL (IT Information Library®) certified, which facilitates a good understanding of processes and transformations within organizations. The certification obtained from the Chartered Institute of Marketing completes his business expertise. He initiated and coordinated studies about the business environment in Romania. He participates in numerous business conferences and writes on topics related to innovation, streamlining business processes, social media, digital transformation, emerging trends and technologies.