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Clear communication is the backbone of any successful hybrid team. Let's explore why clear communication is crucial in hybrid work environments.
As you may already know, there are several benefits when working hybrid. Whether it be the non-existent commute, the perfect balance between work and personal life, or the shift between days with focus on social interactions in the office, and quiet work time when working remote.
There are, however, some things that the team needs to adapt to. Most important is the fact that you no longer have your coworkers around you all day, every day. Therefore, it's important to get used to other ways to communicate with the team. During COVID, many teams tried having open video conferences for a couple of hours a day. That might not be the most recommendable way to go, but applications like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or the like are a great way to optimize contact during remote days.
Having the right tools isn’t everything though; it’s also about using those tools correctly. Having clear communication within a hybrid team requires the right intention and structure. Whilst working in an office environment will spark quick chats and spontaneous brainstorming sessions, the teams must be more deliberate in maintaining connections when working remote.
Having Clear Expectations
Throughout the team, it is important that all members know what is expected of them when it comes to preferred communication channels, available periods, and response times. For instance, some conversations might be better suited for email, while more urgent matters can be addressed via applications such as Slack or Teams.
Agreeing on guidelines for these matters will help the team avoid confusion and ensure that everyone is on the same page, no matter where they’re working from.
Foster a Culture of Open Communications
When teams are working remotely, some members of those teams often have a tendency to feel left out or invisible. To avoid this, it's important for the team to foster a culture where everyone feels welcome to ask questions, share their ideas, or even just quickly mention something more casual to maintain something social in the team.
The leaders of the teams have a big role to play here, both by actively participating in all sorts of talks, but also by being encouraging and making sure that all team members feel they are able to ask even the "stupid" questions.
Use Video From Time to Time
When working remotely, video communication is invaluable. As mentioned prior, it is not necessarily practical to have open video feeds for the team, but for meetings, video is key. We, as humans, use facial expressions, tone, and body language to communicate, and if you leave out the two that require visual contact, we are hampered in our communication. This is where tools such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams really play their part because they not only allow us to be face-to-face, but also to share monitors and a bunch of other useful features.
Keeping Eveyone in the Loop
In a hybrid setting, information silos can quickly form. To prevent this, teams need to be proactive in sharing updates, decisions, and relevant information with all members - whether they’re in the office or working remotely. Regular updates through a shared platform or during virtual standups can ensure that no one feels disconnected or out of the loop.