Page 81 - IBT August 2021 Issue

Global Chambers

By Kyle D. Hegarty August 2021

How to

Create Rules for

Hybrid Teams

There are no rules for hybrid teams. Here is how to In Hybrid Club, new working
create them. norms will not be dictated from
We are at the beginning of a post-pandemic work revolution where the top. Individuals and teams
corporate hierarchies have begun radically re-ordering themselves.
Teams spending more time working remotely will have more will have more autonomy to
autonomy and it will be up to them to create the rules and norms to figure out what works best.
help them succeed and grow an effective work culture. What works for one group may not work
Welcome to the age of Hybrid Club. for others. Individual autonomy, meet
collective cooperation. If you are waiting
The first rule of Hybrid Club: There are no rules. for someone else to tell you what to do,
Therefore it is up to you to make them. you will not do well in Hybrid Club.
Where to start? To improve how your
Expect many organizations to fail in creating effective hybrid team works together, to increase
strategies. This is because there is no one-size fits-all approach to individual accountability, and to reduce
running an effective hybrid team. Many will try to apply top-down the possibility for hybrid team conflict,
rules, but this is the old way of thinking and will leave many consider creating a Team Communication
employees feeling underappreciated. They will leave and go to Contract.
companies who better adjust to this new working world where there A Team Communication Contract
is a healthy work environment and happier clients. includes four sections:
1. Define Norms and Taboos
2. Create team procedures
3. Clarify expectations
4. Specify the consequences for failing to
fulfill these expectations
Spend time with your team to work
through these topics together. The more
specifically you describe your team
expectations, roles, and procedures, the
greater chance you have for success. This
contract should be reviewed and updated
regularly.
Power dynamics across organizations are
shifting which means it is up to YOU to
address the individual and team issues
and re-build new hybrid working norms.
This brings us to the final rule of Hybrid
Kyle D. Hegarty works with global companies, helping them strengthen remote teams and grow
global sales. His first book, The Accidental Business Nomad: A Survival Guide for Working Across Club: This is your Hybrid Club. YOU must
a Shrinking Planet won the 2021 Axiom Business Book Award and is available worldwide. figure it out!

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