In recent times, we’ve seen a large shift towards hybrid and flexible work arrangements as both employers and employees understand the benefits it can bring. The Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 came into force in April this year, and gives workers the right to request flexible working when they start a new job. While this comes with many advantages for both employers and employees, it also brings with it some challenges from a management point of view. Here’s our guide on how to effectively manage hybrid workers.
What is Hybrid Working?
Hybrid work uses a mix of remote and on-site work, allowing employees to choose where they work based on their preferences and company policies. While this model offers flexibility and promotes a healthy work-life balance, it also brings challenges, such as communication gaps, potential isolation, and difficulty in maintaining a cohesive company culture.
The Challenges of Managing Hybrid Employees
Due to remote workers not being onsite, it can create difficulties for managers across a range of issues. For example, team motivation and moral can be hard to gauge without people being there in person, and this can lead to managers not feeling confident in the strength of their team. Other areas that prove challenging are running regular meetings and resolving work conflicts.
Effective communication across a distributed workforce can be challenging because it is easier for miscommunication to occur. It is also easy for remote workers to feel disconnected from their teams and the broader company mission when working in different locations, so keeping a cohesive company culture is also a challenge that managers need to address.
A recent survey conducted by CMI and Timewise in 2023 asked a group of leaders from 30 different organisations about the impact of hybrid working. It found that while 86% of these organisations had embraced the change to flexible working, only 43% of managers received training in managing hybrid teams. This led to CMI and Timewise creating a pilot training scheme to help managers overcome the challenges of having people working from different locations. After the training, there was a significant difference in how confident managers felt about keeping their teams motivated, where almost double the amount saying they felt more confident in managing their teams.
The Future of Hybrid Working
The move to more flexible working is here to stay, so to make sure organisations run smoothly it is essential that managers have the right training to manage their teams effectively. At Ashton People Solutions, we have a variety of training courses available to address this, as well as options on how to receive the training.
Whether you are looking to attend our head office for training in North Wales, want to arrange training at a venue near you, or prefer remote training, we can deliver the skills your managers need in a way that is convenient for all. Our training areas include:
Management skills Hybrid working
– Learn how to inspire virtual team and bring out the best in each and every individual.
-Overcome the barriers and isolation that working remotely can cause.
– Develop a virtual team that works collaboratively and with the interests of the organisation at heart.
-Increase team performance though clear goal setting and communication.
-Improve the effective use of technology within the organisation.
-Develop trusting relationships that ensure the team work towards common goals.
-Keep their teams happy and reduce staff turnaround.
Managing Conflict Remotely and Difficult Conversations Course
-Spotting signs of conflict team working remotely.
-Identify why it’s important to manage difficult conversations.
-Prepare & Structure appropriately.
-Techniques to overcome personal barriers.
-Manage awkward behaviours.
-Understand effective communication techniques.
Leadership and Managing Teams
-Leadership skills
-Managing others
-Goal setting
-Performance management.
Communication Skills
-Develop strategies for positive reinforcement and information sharing
-Listening and questioning skills
-Self-awareness
-Active listening
-Building relationships.
Planning and Organisation course
-Skills for planning – objective setting
-Prioritising effectively
-Overcoming procrastination
-Delegation skills
-Overcoming challenges and managing interruptions.
Effective training is the best way to make sure managers have the skills in place to make their teams a success, benefiting both their organisation and the individuals within their teams. For more information on our training courses, or if you would like to get started, get in touch with us today.
Please contact us on 01352 878535 or info@ashtonpeoplesolutions.co.uk
