Establish An Effective Hybrid Work Environment In 6 Steps

• Andrew Filev, founder of Wrike — a leading collaborative work management platform — recently joined the Allwork.Space Future of Work podcast.  
• Andrew explained how he overcame the challenges of creating a productive, trust-based, and visible hybrid work environment.  
• Certain tools can be used to support hybrid work environments to increase productivity, trust, and visibility.  

In today’s world, the need for an effective hybrid work environment is greater than ever. We have all heard the stories of companies trying to adapt to the new work models post-pandemic, with mixed success. But what if there was a better way?   

Andrew Filev, founder of Wrike — a leading collaborative work management platform — recently joined the Future of Work podcast to discuss how he overcame the challenges of creating a productive, trust-based, and visible hybrid work environment. He also shared which tools can be used to support hybrid work environments and how they can be used to increase productivity, trust, and visibility.

Why is it important to use tools to support hybrid work environments? 

Filev says the use of tools to support hybrid work environments is essential for fostering a productive and collaborative workplace. By having the right tools in place, organizations can ensure that teams are able to work efficiently and collaboratively regardless of their physical location.  

Teams can quickly adapt to changing circumstances and continue to work together, even when they are not able to physically be in the same space. Having access to the correct tools can help to maintain productivity and reduce disruption, in the event of a disruption.
 

Here are the six steps Filev laid out as key to establishing an effective hybrid work environment: 

1. Set clear goals and objectives 

Establishing clear goals and objectives is essential for successful work management and collaboration between teams. A good first step is to identify the mission and annual plan of the company, and then break these down into achievable projects and goals. It is important to ensure that these goals are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART).  

Visibility and communication of these goals is also key; this can be achieved through agile processes such as weekly or biweekly sprints. Having clear goals and objectives can help to streamline processes, regain lost productivity, and reduce stress for employees. It also creates a culture of trust and accountability, as teams work together towards a shared goal.

Having clear goals and objectives in place is also a fantastic way to motivate team members. Additionally, it is important to recognize and reward team members for their successes. This can be done through verbal praise, recognition in team meetings, or even offering rewards or incentives. Creating a culture of appreciation and recognition can help to boost motivation and morale and can lead to greater team cohesion and productivity.

2. Use collaborative work management software to facilitate visibility and communication 

Collaborative work management software helps to facilitate visibility and communication. This type of software helps to streamline processes and increase productivity by providing clear goals and objectives and can help to reduce information overload and tool overload by allowing teams to collaborate in one tool and manage their work in another. This helps workplace culture by increasing trust and transparency and reducing the need for blame or oversight. 

The use of collaborative work management software also allows for better tracking and accountability of projects. When everyone has visibility into what is being worked on and how their work is contributing to the overall project, it can help to keep team members on track and accountable for their work.

3. Streamline processes and tools to increase efficiency and productivity 

To streamline processes and tools is to find the most efficient, productive, and cost-effective way to get the job done. To do this, managers should start by identifying any processes and tools that are causing inefficiencies and then replacing them with more effective ones.  

In addition to streamlining processes and tools, managers should also consider ways to integrate automation into their workflow. Automation can help reduce manual tasks and free up time for more important activities. For example, many companies are turning to robotic process automation (RPA) to automate certain processes, such as data entry. Automating mundane tasks and freeing up time for more meaningful activities can help increase productivity and efficiency. 

4. Encourage real-time collaboration and trust

To encourage real-time collaboration and trust in the workplace, companies should prioritize visibility into the work process, clear goal setting, and collaboration in the context of the work. Transparency and visibility into the work process can also help reduce the stress of busy work, while providing managers with the visibility they need to understand why work is not getting done. 

Creating a culture of trust and collaboration, rather than one of surveillance and blame, can help foster a more positive workplace culture and boost productivity. 

Companies should also look to create an environment that encourages collaboration in the workplace. This could be done through team-building activities, such as group lunches or happy hours, or by encouraging employees to work together on projects. It is also important to create an atmosphere of openness, where employees feel comfortable voicing their opinions and discussing ideas. This can help employees feel more connected to each other and the company, making them feel more invested in the success of the organization.

5. Introduce an agile process to break down goals into achievable steps

Agile processes are designed to help teams work together more effectively and efficiently by breaking down goals into smaller, achievable steps. This allows teams to work together to achieve a larger goal in a timely and cost-effective manner.  

To implement an agile process, it is important to start by setting clear goals for the team. Once the team has a shared understanding of the goal, it is then possible to break it down into achievable steps. Each step should be time-bound and have well-defined metrics for success. The team should then prioritize tasks and assign responsibility to individual team members. This can be done through daily stand-ups, sprints, and weekly retrospectives.  

Another benefit of utilizing an agile process is that it allows teams to accommodate change and respond to feedback quickly. This is because the process is designed to be iterative and adaptive, allowing teams to quickly adjust their strategies and goals when needed. Agile processes also promote collaboration and continuous improvement, allowing teams to develop innovative solutions and improve their processes over time. 

6. Provide visibility into progress and blockers

Providing visibility into progress and blockers is essential for effective team collaboration. This can be achieved by breaking down goals into achievable steps, setting clear expectations, and having daily or weekly check-ins to monitor progress.

Teams should also communicate any blockers they encounter, so that all members are aware of any issues that could impede progress. Providing visibility into progress and blockers can help to create a culture of accountability. This can be done by setting individual goals for team members, tracking their progress, and keeping everyone up to date on any blockers that need addressing.

Establishing an effective hybrid work environment requires a great deal of planning and effort. Luckily, these six steps can help explain how to create an environment of trust and collaboration, foster a more positive workplace culture, and increase productivity.