Hybrid work is still relatively new for many companies and leaders are trying to navigate how to manage expectations and productivity. Having in-person and hybrid workers can be overwhelming, so providing clear expectations is essential to having a successful hybrid workforce. Being clear with communication and instruction will help in-person and hybrid workers understand their roles and responsibilities.
Here are some ways to manage expectations and productivity with hybrid employees:
Develop a hybrid workplace policy
When developing a hybrid policy, consider talking to your employees to understand what their preferences might be. This can help you put together policies that your hybrid employees agree with.
Here are some policies to consider addressing:
- Work hours – Establish specific work hours that your remote employees are expected to be online. Having specific work hours will help keep your remote workers motivated and it will also help prevent them from working overtime.
- Hybrid work schedules – Provide different work schedule options for when your hybrid employees are expected to come into the office.
- Set specific remote locations – Decide if your employees can only work from their home, or if they are able to work at various locations.
- Cybersecurity rules – Provide clear cybersecurity rules for your hybrid employees.
Make communication a priority
Clear and frequent communication is important for hybrid employees. Since these employees are not in the office every day it is easy for them to not receive information and feel out of the loop.
Here are some ways to prioritize communication with your remote employees:
- Have frequent 1-on-1 meetings – Setting aside time to speak directly with your remote employees is important because it allows managers to check up on each of their employees.
- Be clear with verbal and written forms of communication – Because employees cannot physically be together when working remotely, it is important to make sure that all forms of communication are transparent and clear. This will help reduce confusion and miscommunication.
- Frequently check in on employees – Sending an email, messaging, or calling employees to check in on them can make all the difference. While it is important not to micromanage, frequently communicating to make sure employees understand their assignments can help address any questions that employees may have.
Make all participants feel included in hybrid meetings
Meetings that include remote and in-person employees can be a challenge to manage. When planning meetings, it is important to make sure that remote employees can be seen and heard if they have input or questions.
Here are some ways to have a productive hybrid meeting:
- Enable a chat function
- Test technology in advance
- Give equal focus to all attendees
- Consider time zones
Create expectations as a team
Consider involving hybrid employees when you discuss and determine hybrid policies. Remote and hybrid employees often have suggestions and ideas since they have firsthand experience with working remote.
Hybrid employees may have suggestions on preferred methods of communication, how often check-ins are needed, and working hours.
Creating policies as a team will allow employees to express their opinions, which can help keep them satisfied.
Listen and observe
Because hybrid employees are not always in the office, it is important for managers to listen to their hybrid workers during meetings and follow-ups. Meetings and follow-ups are the time for managers to answer questions and make sure that work is getting done efficiently.
Observing employees can help determine if there are any signs of quiet quitting. Quiet quitting is not verbally expressed, instead, it is told through body language and lack of progress and motivation. Managers can use these meetings to observe and make sure their hybrid employees are still satisfied and motivated.
Today, many companies have hybrid and in-person employees. Managing expectations and productivity with hybrid workers can be a challenge but follow these tips to help get started with managing a hybrid workforce.