5 Tips to Build A Strong Hybrid Work Culture

Workplace culture has always been of significant importance to employees, and over the years has commanded the attention of leadership teams. As organisations grapple with post-pandemic norms and retention struggles, the topic’s relevancy has surged significantly in recent times. Many companies are awakening to the fact that they must create a dynamic, stable, and close-knit culture to remain relevant, and continue attracting and retaining top talent.

It takes an effective combination of tools, practices, and habits to achieve this, especially when managing a hybrid work model. This article will address the basics of corporate culture and some key elements to creating a strong one, whether your workers are in-house, remote, or both. 

Why Does Your Work Culture Matter?

We talk about it a lot, but what’s the actual definition? 

Culture is a collection of attitudes, beliefs, systems, and traditions that theme a work environment. An organisation’s culture is set at the top by its leadership and trickles down to front-line workers (for better or worse). 

In 2018, LinkedIn shared a survey concluding that 65% of employees would rather forfeit a flashy title and higher pay than put up with a lousy work environment, demonstrating how critical culture is. It drives an organisation’s ability to set and reach strong objectives and:

Talent Attraction

Research shows that premium talent is up to eight times more productive than average workers. Creating an environment that provides continual growth opportunities and supports a healthy, balanced work-life is the way to draw in these employees and keep them on the payroll. 

Strengthens Employee Engagement and Retention

Once upon a time, compensation and stability were almost the only things binding employees to an organisation. Nowadays, workers value meaning, balance, and companionship at work. 

Creates Evangelists and Promotes Performance  

Are your employees enthusiastic and productive, or do they drag themselves to work every morning while counting the days to the next long weekend? Culture makes all the difference in creating environments people stay in because they’re thriving, not because they can’t afford to leave.

How Do You Build a Strong Work Culture?

Culture-building is an ongoing, experimental process that involves adapting to shifts in the business world and workers' needs continually. Here are some tips to keep you on track: 

Bridge Communication Gaps

Get your team’s input about your work environment by gathering their feedback and turning their culture-building ideas into actionable plans. Asking for your employees’ opinions and implementing them makes them feel heard and valued and alerts you to solutions you would never have thought about.

Establish Trust and Emotional Safety

Mutual respect and trust are the cornerstones of any great work environment.  It’s vital to create an atmosphere of psychological and emotional safety so that your people feel comfortable voicing their opinions and taking risks without fear of judgement or punishment. 

One way to achieve this is by setting an example through your leadership that it’s okay to make mistakes, admit weaknesses, and be vulnerable, especially regarding issues like mental health. Also, going back to the previous point, work on creating a feedback culture where team members can give honest, constructive performance reviews about anyone in the company regardless of status or title. 

Tailor Recruiting and Onboarding Practices Specifically for Remote Workers

Remote workers face the unique challenge of adapting without the in-person support ordinarily available to onsite employees. Therefore, you need to tailor your recruiting and onboarding practices specific to their needs. For example, since onboarding remote workers typically takes longer than it does for traditional ones, be sure to leave enough room on your timeline for that. 

Also, leverage collaborative apps and other technology to strengthen communication between all teams and levels of the organisation so that everyone feels remembered and connected. It’s also important to lay out a specific plan for managing remote workers effectively once they’re officially part of your company.

Regularly Connect On-site and Virtual Teams 

It’s a challenge to establish and maintain connectivity between remote and in-house staff. One simple solution is to invest in regular professional development, game night, volunteering and other team activities where colleagues can learn and have fun together. Be sure to organise virtual events so that everyone can participate, no matter their location. 

Regularly Revisit Your Company's Mission, Vision and Purpose

Mission, vision, and purpose statements should reflect on your company's values and define its goals.  It should distinguish your brand from competitors, and above all, resonate with employees.

Wrapping Up

The pandemic has dramatically shifted the way we work and interact with our colleagues, creating an unprecedented challenge of managing workers on and off-site. That said, your teams can continue to be high functioning and complement each other effectively, even if their locations vastly differ. The key to ensuring this and building a strong work culture hinges on leaderships ability to openly communicate and actively listen, leading by example, investing in the right technology, and prioritising your people operations strategy.