By YEC
Invest in high-quality collaboration tools to help employees stay connected in a hybrid workplace.
​As the modern workforce evolves, the appeal of hybrid work environments is becoming increasingly apparent. While remote work may not be feasible for every company, adopting a hybrid work solution can be an attractive benefit to both potential and current employees. However, moving from a fully on-site setup to a hybrid environment requires careful planning to ensure a smooth and successful transition.
If you’re ready to embrace the hybrid working model for your business, read on for 8 expert tips recommended by Council for Young Entrepreneurs members.
What is one tip you would give a fully on-site company for a smooth transition to a hybrid environment?
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1. Get the right technology
Deploy the right technology to support hybrid work. Invest in communication tools, such as video conferencing and instant messaging software, and provide remote workers with access to needed files and documents through cloud-based platforms. Ensuring that remote workers have the necessary technology and resources helps companies maintain a sense of belonging and collaboration. —Kyle Goguen, pawstruck
2. Use a virtual office platform
By using a virtual office platform such as Team flow, you can connect your remote and on-site employees almost seamlessly in one central location. Critically, virtual office platforms create a sense of community among employees, which is critical for unofficial “office-like” communication. —Idan Waller, Blue Throne
3. Clarify your hybrid work policy
For a company that can’t go completely remote and is considering a hybrid solution, one way to make the transition seamless is to create and implement a clear hybrid work policy. This means identifying the tasks that can be performed remotely, along with those that require on-site presence, and clearly communicating your expectations to employees so they know what is expected of them. —Stephanie Wells, Formidable shapes
4. Invest in collaboration tools
One tip I would give is that the company is investing in quality communication and collaboration tools to help employees stay connected regardless of location. These tools enable remote and onsite employees to collaborate quickly and efficiently, improving productivity and overall success. —Kristin Kimberly Marquet, Marquet Media, LLC
5. Identify hybrid-ready roles
Follow the playbook larger organizations use to reduce headcount over time. First, identify which roles can be filled by hybrid (or completely remote) workers. If fully on-site employees in those roles leave the company, replace them with hybrid or remote employees. —Andrew Schrage, Money Crashers personal finance
6. Show confidence
Trust is a two-way street. Trust your employees to get the job done, regardless of their location. Focus on output rather than micromanagement. When you empower your team members to feel valued and motivated to deliver outstanding results. Trust me – it’s a win-win situation! —Abhijeet Kaldate, Astra WordPress theme
7. Ensure availability of employees
Have fixed office days, overlapping hours and communicate well about check-ins. This ensures that team members are available when you expect them to be and that there are no communication breakdowns due to going hybrid. One of the biggest issues companies face when working part-time remotely is access to their employees, so create a structure where everyone is available, even if they’re not in person. —Firas Kittaneh, Amerisleep mattress
8. Use video conferencing
One tip that can make the transition to a hybrid work environment smoother for a fully on-site business is to invest in remote working technology, including video conferencing, project management, and collaboration tools. In addition to remote work technology, consider requiring your remote workers to keep a Zoom video for most of the workday so that workers in their small groups can learn from each other. —EddieLou, CodePet
About the author
Council for Young Entrepreneurs (YEC) is an invite-only organization made up of the world’s most successful young entrepreneurs.
