5 Ways to Promote Motivation and Inclusivity with a Hybrid Team

With the rise of technology, working from home is easier than ever. Most businesses have transferred to working both in-person, but also remotely, which gives employees more flexibility and freedom in how and where they work. If you ask us, it’s a great thing. Who doesn’t love getting on a work call in PJs while laying on the couch?

Building a hybrid team of workers that are both in-person and online brings lots of benefits, such as the ability to hire talent from around the world and not worrying about whether they can move across the country or not. But it can also brings challenges, especially relating to motivation, time management, and inclusivity. It’s more difficult to promote productivity and inclusivity when half your team is online.

That's why it's important to be especially conscious when building your hybrid team: you want your entire staff working together harmoniously so they can accomplish their goals and thrive professionally at work. Let’s go through 5 ways to promote motivation and inclusivity within your team to increase productivity and collaboration.

1. Be Clear About Your Goal

It's important to know what you want to achieve, and how you plan on achieving it. You should have a specific goal in mind, along with an achievable timeline for achieving that goal. Be sure to share it with everyone on the team and check that everyone’s on the same page. Having this plan will help keep motivation high because it gives people something specific to work on each day that leads the team closer to the overarching goal. You can even motivate the team with rewards along the way!

2. Provide the Right Tools for Your Team to Succeed

There’s a multitude of programs and resources out there that can facilitate collaboration, motivation, and inclusivity within your team. You could introduce a platform like Slack or Monday for communication and project management. It’s a great way to keep everyone on the same page and since the team will be using the same program, everyone will feel included and have the chance to participate fully.

3. Promote a Positive Work Environment and Culture

When you promote a positive work environment, you're creating an inclusive and supportive space where your team members feel they can learn from one another without fear of judgment or reprisal. It’s important to make sure everyone on your hybrid team feels included in meetings, conversations and decisions that affect them directly or indirectly. This means being open to change, flexible, accommodating, and respectful of individual differences.

4. Examine Your Team’s Processes and Identify Ways to Streamline Them

When you're working with a hybrid team, it can be easy for things like communication and collaboration to get lost in translation due to the disconnect between time zones or cultures. To avoid this problem, make sure that everyone on your team is aware of what needs done and how they can contribute. You'll also want to make sure that everyone understands the process by which something gets done—this will ensure that no one feels left out or frustrated by their role within the group project.

5. Be Open to Differences

This one sounds obvious, but when you're building a hybrid team, it's important to make sure everyone feels included in the work and has their voice heard. This is especially true when you have people from different backgrounds and cultures on your team. A diverse group of employees can bring different perspectives to the table, which will allow you to come up with better solutions for problems or challenges that arise while working together.

Takeaway

Inclusivity, motivation, and a positive work environment are all important factors in creating a successful hybrid team because they allow everyone to collaborate effectively and get things done efficiently. The best way to promote these key elements is by taking the time to understand each person's needs and wants. By doing so, you'll be able to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable being themselves while also feeling like they have something valuable to contribute.