Hybrid Work: These Skills Make Your Teams Ready for Virtual Collaboration

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Hybrid work Has long since established itself as a “new normal.” But even though it offers numerous benefits, this type of collaboration poses particular challenges for both employees and managers. Hybrid teams, in which some of the employees are in the office and the other part in Home office or Remote Works, need specific skills to work together effectively and successfully. In this post, you'll find out which Skills Your teams in Hybrid working models Need how these skills can be developed and why they are decisive for success in virtual collaboration Are.

Hybrid work models: The balance between office, home office and remote work

Hybrid work Describes a form of work in which employees work both in the office and from home or another location. This flexibility allows companies to take advantage of both worlds: direct collaboration in the office, but also the aspect of Work-life balance And a more flexible, supra-regional Talent acquisition Through the Remote work. But this hybrid way of working also poses challenges.

In the next few minutes, we'll take a detailed look at the relevant skills that your teams need for successful, digital collaboration.

Virtual Communication: The Key to Successful Digital Collaboration

In a hybrid work environment Is Communications The linchpin. While non-verbal signals such as facial expressions and gestures make up a large part of communication on site, these are often missing in digital meetings. It is important here that all Teammates Communicate clearly and precisely. A particular role is played by Empathic listening.‍

Practical example:: In a hybrid team meeting, you find out that your colleague from Home office Speaks little. Instead of continuing the conversation, you could involve him directly and bring him into the conversation: “Maurice, what do you think of that? I would like to hear your opinion as a Future Skills Consultant.” This is how you ensure that all voices are heard and strengthen the Team Cohesion.‍

Tip: Promote active listening In your team and act as a role model Ask questions and summarize what you have heard in your own words. In this way, your team avoids misunderstandings and shows a stronger understanding of each other.

Creativity in the digital space: Your ideas are bubbling up even in a hybrid setting

A common misconception is that Creativity Can only arise in face-to-face situations. But even with virtual collaboration There are numerous methods for initiating creative processes. This includes techniques such as Brainwriting Or the Walt Disney Method particularly helpful.

Practical example: In a hybrid brainstorming session, your teams could Flip-flop method Apply. In doing so, the participants consciously reverse their perspective, which leads to new and unconventional ideas.

Tip: Put on digital whiteboards Like Miro, on which all participants can record their ideas. This technique helps to include all voices equally and prevents individuals from dominating.

Self-management in hybrid teams: Finding focus successfully

Hybrid work Requires a high level of Self-management. Since there is often no direct exchange with team members, your employees must be able to organize themselves. Skills such as Prioritizing, Self-discipline, Self-motivation and Time management.

Practical example: Recommend that your teams block fixed times in the calendar for focused work when they're not available for meetings. These time frames help you complete strategic tasks without interruptions.

Tip: Encourage your employees to clearly Daily goals to set and visualize their successes. This motivates and helps them stay productive even during periods of low interaction.

Empathy in the Home Office: The Superpower for a Strong Virtual Team

empathy Is one of the most important interpersonal skills in Hybrid teams. It helps to better understand the feelings and needs of others, to minimize conflicts and to Team Spirit to strengthen. empathic behavior This is seen, for example, when meetings are planned in such a way that they are compatible with the personal obligations of employees.

Practical example: If you know that a team member regularly makes an appointment to pick up their child at 3 p.m., schedule meetings at a different time. This shows consideration and strengthens trust and motivation within the team.

Tip: Encourage your leaders and teams to not only pay attention to the words of team members, but also to Non-verbal signals Such as tone of voice and facial expressions. These can provide important information about the mood and needs of those involved. To do this, use classic check-ins with a mood query such as “What is the score of your social battery? ”.

Remote Collaboration: More than Just Digital Tools

Successful Collaboration Into Hybrid teams Goes far beyond the use of digital tools. It is about building trust, maintaining clear communication, and recognizing and using the strengths of team members.

Practical example: Encourage deployment agile working methods Like Retrospectives to regularly reflect on and adapt cooperation. This creates space for feedback and continuous improvement of your processes.

Tip: Establish Virtual coffee breaks or Informal check-ins Where team members can exchange ideas in a relaxed atmosphere. Search regular, relaxed meetings promote trust and team cohesion, which has a positive effect on Collaboration Has an impact on the entire project.

Hybrid Leadership: The Special Competence for Remote Managers

For managers in Hybrid teams Is the ability to Situational leadership decisively. Hybrid leadership Requires your managers to respond flexibly to the different needs of employees while finding the balance between trust and control.

Practical example: An employee needs more structure in their work, while another colleague works best with a lot of autonomy. It is important to act according to the situation here: While the manager gives one employee clear goals and regular updates, she gives colleagues more freedom to manage their tasks independently.

Tip: Regulate regular personal meetings or Onsite events Around the Team Cohesion to strengthen. Auch digital team building activities Can help, that Sense of togetherness to promote and create closeness despite physical distance.

Practice What You Preach — Sparks Edition

We too at sparks Live that hybrid work and are spread across various cities in Europe. Every 6-8 weeks, we meet in small sub-teams, twice a year across the entire team at strategic issues to discuss. In doing so, we also use the time for Retrospectives in order to continuously improve our cooperation and exchange ideas intensively about our working methods and other important topics. These regular meetings not only strengthen the team spirit, but also offer the opportunity to develop creative ideas and clearly define common goals. And by the way, you get to know yourself in a completely new way.

The subject area helps us work together”Hybrid Teams“. This smart guide offers microlearnings in various formats — from videos and audios to interactive elements. You will receive valuable tips and tricks that your employees can apply directly in practice. In this way, you ensure that the specific challenges of hybrid teams are mastered and that collaboration is taken to a new level.

Conclusion: Managing hybrid teams successfully — The key lies in the right skills

With that hybrid working models work, your teams must meet the new requirements for communications, creativity, Self-management, empathy, Collaboration and hybrid leadership Take these skills seriously and develop these skills in a targeted manner. This form of work offers the opportunity to combine the strengths of the digital and analog world — but only if the necessary Skills are available and are being worked on continuously.

This blog article is the product of a successful symbiosis of people and technology. By joining forces — human creativity and the support of intelligent algorithms — we developed this article together. The combination of AI and human expertise proves to be an unbeatable team! By the way: We have our AI capabilities at sparks with our Smart Guide”AI for Everyone“refined. And the best part: It works great!

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