Managing and leading people in hybrid and remote teams

Back in March and April 2020, business leaders were grappling with how to function effectively without being in physical contact with each other. Things have moved on a lot now and we are now in a place where hybrid working is fast becoming a standard approach for businesses who used to run completely on-site.

Managing virtual teams

Managing homeworkers is not something that is going to simply go away. We are unlikely to see a mass return to the office, even if COVID-19 ceased to exist tomorrow. The business landscape has shifted irreversibly, in my view, and leaders need to be thinking now about how best to blend on-site and homeworking staff into teams that can function as effectively as fully on-site teams.

One of the approaches I suggested in my series of lockdown videos was the Daily Virtual Huddle. I think this approach still has validity now. By bringing together your team at the same time every morning, everyone can run through their activities for the day, ensuring that all critical tasks are covered and there is no duplication of effort. A daily huddle, which need only be 15-30 minutes depending on team size can help your staff to feel connected, motivated and reduce the chances of isolation.

Producing a short email summary of tasks achieved is also a great way for both staff and managers to feel accomplished and confident that everything is on track. It demonstrates the productivity of the staff member and gives managers oversight of what is happening when some team members are not on-site.

This approach was a vital tool in the early days of lockdown because staff and managers were thrown into an unknown working environment where their integrity and trust were being tested. Now, almost 2 years down the line, this approach can still be useful for newly formed teams or projects where people are coming together for work for the first time.

Keeping employees engaged and motivated is a key part of being a good manager and this continues to be an ongoing challenge as remote working becomes more prevalent. Creating a simple daily catchup will enable managers to pick on issues much sooner, leading to stronger, more agile teams who function just as well virtually as in-person.

Everyone is anxious at the moment, so people just need that reassurance. They need that guidance from their boss, from CEOs just to say, ‘Look, I’m here. We can have this huddle in the morning and then if there is anything during the day as well, just drop me an email.’ Make sure that the communication lines are open and they are open frequently.

Team building

How do you maintain productivity and engagement when people are working in their own little bubbles?

In my video The Importance of Team Building, I discuss this area of business management. The most vital things for all business leaders to do are:

• have regular meetings which enable two-way discussion
• be available whenever staff want to speak to them
• regularly share outcomes with the team, such as key performance indicators, project updates, company and personal news

Good leadership requires clear, consistent and timely communication. Employees need to understand the goals of the business so leaders must ensure that:

• Staff know the rules of the game, understand what the business culture is
• Have an action plan as to how to reach these goals
• Enable calculated risk-taking to reach goals by listening to employees’ ideas and trying them out

These elements of teambuilding and teamwork contribute to participation and inclusivity. Having clarity of what is expected and by when can help your team work more efficiently and can reduce the incidence of burnout, stress and demotivation.

Mental and physical wellbeing

Even without being in a lockdown, the importance of employee wellbeing, both mental and physical cannot be overstated. It is critical for the success of your teams and business overall. Without staff to run operations, find new customers and markets, close sales and deliver goods, there is no business, so keeping your teams mental and physically strong should be a high priority for business owners and leaders.

Although we are fortunately now able to get out and about more, there is definitely a space for providing support to employees who are working remotely to ensure that they look after their health. Working from home can lead to blurred lines and it can create work/life imbalance especially in businesses that are expanding rapidly. Working hours have increased now that people are travelling less for business, and this can take a heavy toll on wellbeing.

By offering your staff some support, such as access to yoga, meditation, exercise or nutrition classes, you can demonstrate that you are an employer who cares about their people. One of my clients, who has more than 25 employees, offered an online programme during the pandemic lockdowns to help his staff maintain better mental and physical health. It was greatly appreciated, and many staff took part. In fact, the participation had a knock-on impact of creating an increase in team productivity, helping everyone to feel more connected and valued.

What are your views on how to manage teams in the remote and hybrid models and what strategies do you use to maintain productivity and accountability?

I would love to hear from you so please do comment below.