Hybrid working: top tips for collaboration

Hybrid is taking off. From events to working styles, organisations of all shapes and sizes are implementing hybrid. Mixing virtual and office working has many benefits. CharityConnect, the community platform, says that staff safety, satisfaction, and reduced costs are some of the main advantages of hybrid models.

To fully appreciate the benefits of hybrid working, staff need to be able to work together.

Here are our top tips for collaboration.

Make sure your team is set up for hybrid working success

At Charity Digital, we’ve championed strategies for digital and data. Hybrid working is no different. Developing charity policies around hybrid working sets the tone for your working environment. You’ll want to address what the expectations are for work. Make sure to discuss digital communications, performance, and working patterns.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) offers online resources for charity digital leaders managing hybrid teams. When it comes to using new tech, the CIPD suggests a ‘people first’ approach. The idea is to consider mental health well-being, communication, and work objectives and then follow with suitable digital tools.

Leverage your office and digital space

Consider maximising both your office space and staff resources. To prepare for hybrid working styles, it’s important to schedule time in the office and to know where your staff will be in advance. By organising resources, teams are able to plan, meet up, and use digital tools effectively.

Digital scheduling tools can help charities work more efficiently. Hybrid OS and Envoy make it easy for charities to map out physical workspaces and book time at the desk. Both digital tools let staff reserve desks, meeting rooms, and schedule deliveries. The software also produces metrics on space usage so leaders can make informed decisions.

Promote innovation

One down side of going digital is the lack of spontaneity and ad hoc meetings. Forbes Magazine reports that working virtually has made it more difficult to promote innovation. The magazine says workers are losing their sense of purpose because they don’t have that sense of team camaraderie.

Leaders can still promote innovation and team spirit with digital tools. To truly make it a success, remote workers need to be included even when physical meetings take place. Adding digital participation to meetings encourages discussion and collaboration. Plan time for brainstorms, whiteboarding, and creativity sessions in both online and in-person meetings.

In terms of technology, Microsoft Teams is a big hit with charities, helping to connect staff across multiple locations. Teams supports multiple layers of communication, making it a good solution for team collaboration.