Three Strategies for Effective Communication on a Hybrid Team

As more organizations plan for a post-pandemic work world, where and how employees work will be at the heart of these conversations.  For many businesses, the advantages of remote working were proven during the pandemic, and so they may be planning for a hybrid environment that fuses both at-home and in-office arrangements.

While hybrid is the mode of choice of a significant number of employees now, it does pose some unique challenges.  Hybrid workplace communication, in particular, is an area that employers need to focus on to promote productivity, collaboration and engagement in this unprecedented environment.

Here are three steps company leaders should consider in order to ensure hybrid workplace communication doesn’t hold the business back—but rather empowers and elevates employees.

1. Understand Current Communication Approaches

The shift to remote happened so quickly in 2020 that many employers weren’t able to put together cohesive strategies around workplace communication—instead, they had to focus on keeping their workforce safe and their business up and running.  Now that they’re planning for the long-term, however, businesses need to take stock of exactly how the communication that powers their organization is happening.

Across divisions and teams, understand who’s communicating when and how.  Are managers conducting one-to-one sessions with their reports; if so, how are they communicating, and is it successful?  Work to identify the technology tools that are supporting workplace communication—such as videoconferencing or chat—and the frequency and circumstances under which they are being deployed.  

What are expectations for employee communication for teams with staff in different geographic locations? How is information shared and stored?  Answering these questions as you plan for a new approach to hybrid workplace communication can provide context around what’s working and what needs improvement.

2. Review Policies Around Communication—And Communicate Them

Communication in this reimagined workplace will need structure.  Determine the workflows that function best for your unique workforce and ensure equity for both remote and in-person employees.  Plan for how managers will communicate with reports on day-to-day matters, longer-range issues, as well as how company leaders will share important updates with all employees, regardless of location.  Once this framework is in place, distribute it to all employees and invite feedback.

3. Leverage Technology

Technology has been the driving factor behind the success of remote work, and it will continue to be integral to hybrid workplace communication.  As you create and roll out your communication strategy, ensure it is taking full advantage of technology.  For example, platforms like Slack facilitate quick chat and file-sharing between team members, whether in or out of the office.  Or, your organization may need an enterprise-level solution like Microsoft Teams to better integrate the company’s full technology suite.

Work to figure out which tools are best suited for which circumstances, and how they can be best leveraged for business success.  Pay attention to how the tech needs of remote and in-person staff differ and quickly work to address any disparities.

Hybrid workplace communication will be key to differentiating the companies that thrive after the pandemic and those that struggle. With a strong communication strategy rooted in the particular needs and strengths of an organization’s workforce and the help of a great staffing agency to hire qualified candidates, a company can have a solid foundation for post-pandemic success. Elite Personnel works with businesses in Washington, D.C., and Maryland, contact our team of staffing professionals today.