Covid-19 has paved the way for remote staff to be integrated into hybrid teams.

While the flexibility and lower costs make a strong case for hybrid teams, the big question is how to align in-house and remote employees, and engage them across the board.

Both teams need to be in sync and have responsibilities that complement each other in order to succeed.

Any fall out between the two can cause workplace tension and damage staff morale, which is essential to a fast-paced growth environment.

Support your hybrid teams

Harvard Business Review notes that a hybrid arrangement can breed an “us vs them” attitude.

Experts quoted in the article advise that managers treat both teams equally and with compassion, as they navigate this new and somewhat unusual work style. 

For example, regular video calls with your remote workers and in-person conversations with your in-house teams.

Discuss any questions or concerns they may have, such as differences in work culture or language barriers.

Make your remote team feel part of the company, and not some “freelancers” on a temporary contract.

Continuing to check-in with both teams frequently shows that you care about their well-being. You could also schedule mental health day offs to prevent burnout.

Assign your roles mindfully

There are also a few considerations when it comes to managing effective hybrid teams.

Some them include proper division of duties between remote and in-house staff.

For instance, implementation roles are suitable for remote teams, while leadership and strategy can be based in headquarters.

You could assign frontend or backend development, design, and digital marketing tasks to your remote teams.

Appoint a team leader for your remote teams so that he or she can align your remote employees with goals and deliverables.

Bring the best out in your hybrid teams

As the gateway to Southeast Asia, Singapore-based businesses are in an advantageous position.

They have the closest access to Southeast Asia-based tech talent, and are in a prime spot to expand their businesses regionally.

In our webinar Future of Hiring: Building Successful Hybrid Teams held on 23 November 2021, we addressed the unique challenges that arose from the hybrid team model, as well as discussed issues central to the effective management of hybrid teams.

Guest speakers at the webinar deep-dived into the following topics:

1. How are businesses navigating through the effects of the pandemic for market expansion and business growth
2. What makes Singapore the choice location for regional HQ and expansion across Southeast Asia
3. Insights and case studies on what roles and functions can be centralised and decentralised
4. Best practices for remote team building and hybrid team management

With careful planning and management, hybrid teams can bring their company to greater heights.

Watch this webinar on-demand now!

This article is brought to you by Glints TalentHub. Leading companies are actively building their borderless teams in Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and beyond. However, the prospect of going borderless can be daunting due to complex regulations and cultural ambiguities. With Glints TalentHub, you’ll have a dedicated team of in-market legal, HR, and talent experts by your side at every step of the way.

Glints TalentHub offers an end-to-end, tech-enabled talent solution that encompasses talent acquisition, EOR, and talent development. We empower businesses to leverage the strengths of regional talent efficiently to build high-performing, cost-efficient teams.

Schedule a no-obligation consultation with our experts to receive a tailored proposal today.