How to Maintain Team Culture in a Hybrid Work Environment
In the business world, we talk a lot about ‘team culture’. While we often think of team culture in terms of team off-sites, perks packages, and what snacks are stocked in the office kitchen, what team culture really comes down to are the shared values, beliefs, and behaviours that shape how your team works together.
However, as hybrid environments become more prevalent, maintaining a strong team culture can feel a bit like herding cats – it’s not impossible, but it certainly takes a bit of finesse.
We all know the many benefits of hybrid working – from flexibility to a better work-life balance – but it can also lead to some challenges, such as keeping a cohesive office culture that ensures all team members stay connected, engaged, and productive, no matter where they’re logging in from.
Luckily, we at Grafter have plenty of experience when it comes to maintaining a solid company culture across multiple offices, teams, and even countries. By making a few key adjustments – like branding your shared workspace, scheduling regular team-building activities, and promoting clear communication – you can ensure your team stays unified and motivated. Here’s how.
Create a Branded Workspace
Take it from our Marketing team – branding is so much more than the logo on your business card, and it isn’t just for your clientele. Branding is an essential element that helps create a strong sense of identity within your team. Your brand is a little like wearing your favourite team’s jersey; you’re showing your support for and part of a larger community.
In a hybrid model where employees are in and out of the office or coworking space, having a branded private office suite can be a powerful way to reinforce team culture. When employees walk into a branded workspace, they should feel a sense of belonging and connection to the company’s mission and values.
Whether you’re leasing a shared workspace or have a dedicated office, make sure the physical environment reflects your company’s ethos. Simple touches like wall decals of your company’s logo, a consistent colour scheme, and personalised office décor can have a profound impact on how connected team members feel.
If you’re operating from a serviced office space, ask if they allow customisation of private office suites. Many flexible workspaces are more than happy to accommodate branding requests. This simple adjustment can ensure that when your team comes together in person, they feel like they’re stepping into a cohesive and familiar work environment.
Schedule Regular In-Person Team Building Activities
While the wfh (work-from-home) life has its benefits, face-to-face interactions will always be the gold standard when it comes to building strong relationships and a sense of camaraderie. Some of our longest lasting and most meaningful connections come from the spontaneity of grabbing a coffee with a colleague or having an impromptu brainstorming session over lunch.
To keep that connection alive, schedule regular in-person team-building activities in your coworking space or other shared environments.
These can be as simple as a lunch meet-up once a week or more elaborate activities like a team-building day where you escape the office altogether. There are plenty of options, from outdoor activities like hiking or kayaking, to more relaxed activities such as trivia nights or escape rooms.
The key is to give employees the chance to bond in a low-pressure setting. By gathering together for something fun and lighthearted, teams can strengthen relationships that will translate back into a more cohesive office culture.
Prioritise Face-to-Face Meetings for Important Conversations
Some news you want delivered in person, and while Zoom calls and virtual meetings are seamless in many modern flexible workspaces, scheduling face-to-face meetings for important conversations can significantly boost team morale and productivity.
Hybrid work environments are all about balance. When big decisions or high-stakes discussions are needed, try to schedule them on days when the team will be together in the shared workspace. In-person meetings offer the benefit of non-verbal communication – like body language and facial expressions – that are often missed on virtual calls. This not only helps build trust but also ensures that everyone is aligned and on the same page.
Plus, showing your team that you value their presence and input for important conversations makes them feel like they’re part of something bigger – a critical piece when it comes to establishing a lasting, positive company culture.
Create Shared Team Codes and Rituals
There’s a reason we have rituals, whether that’s a particular Christmas pudding recipe passed down through the generations or an annual rugby outing to with friends from school. Culture – professional and personal – is rooted in shared experiences and rituals that bring everyone together. One surefire way to maintain unity in a hybrid working environment? Establish team codes – informal norms or routines that give employees a sense of consistency.
This could be as simple as a Friday afternoon team call, a monthly ‘shout-out’ for outstanding performance, or even a ‘coffee hour’ where the team meets virtually to chat about non-work topics. Regular rituals help employees feel included and engaged, whether they’re in the office or working remotely.
The point is to establish a rhythm that everyone can rely on, building a shared sense of community and belonging even when the team isn’t physically together.
Encourage Open Communication and Feedback
Anyone who has been through the ringer with a less-than-ideal team culture will tell you it isn’t about the company social events or the branded merch. A healthy team culture comes down to a few critical pieces – clear, open communication being one of them.
When team members are spread across various locations, coming together in person only a few times a week or month, it’s crucial that all employees feel heard and valued, no matter where they are.
Creating structured opportunities for feedback is one of the best ways you can instill a culture of honest communication within your company. Perhaps this is through regular one-on-one meetings with managers or anonymous feedback forms. The goal is to give team members a space where they can voice their thoughts and concerns without feeling like they’ll get a slap on the wrist.
Of course, getting your employee’s feedback is just the beginning. Don’t forget to address concerns with respect and honesty in a timely manner – just as you would for your client base.
Equally important is making sure that employees know how to communicate effectively with each other. Encourage the use of shared communication tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams to keep everyone in the loop, and keep virtual meetings as inclusive and interactive as possible.
Ensure Workplace Well-Being with Ergonomics and Flexibility
As we know well at Grafter, your physical environment plays a huge role in your day-to-day. Flexible workspaces are set up to support health, well-being, and productivity with breakout areas, ergonomic furniture, and proper lighting.
Team members who work from home regularly should be encouraged to invest in chairs that support good posture and sit-stand desks. From a management perspective, consider allocating a stipend to each employee to help them with these costs.
When employees are in the office, it’s easy to make sure everyone is taking proper breaks and getting some fresh air, and the same should go for hybrid team members. Regularly updating your employees on the benefits of working wellness will help them feel more motivated and productive, whether the office is a formal space or a desk in the spare bedroom.
The hybrid work model is here to stay, but that doesn’t mean your company culture needs to take a hit. In fact, by branding your workspace, prioritising in-person meetings and activities, encouraging open communication, and promoting employee well-being, you’re showing your team that working with their needs (as well as the ever-changing nature of office life) is important to your business’s core ethos…aka – your company culture.
At Grafter, company culture comes included. Let us find a workspace solution for your hybrid team today.