In the past, companies could rely on a stable, loyal employee base. Workers might switch jobs every few years, but they’re more likely to stay with one company for decades because they have fewer options in their localities. However, today’s employers must compete for top talent in a global marketplace that offers unparalleled flexibility and freedom.
Fortunately, most companies have embraced the idea of a hybrid workforce comprising full-time employees, contractors, and contingent workers. This setup can help you manage expenses and take advantage of the talent that may be difficult to find in the traditional hiring market. Unfortunately, you must be able to establish strong connections with them to get the most out of your hybrid workforce.
That said, here is a five-item list to help you do so:
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Organizing Team Building Activities
Organizing team-building activities together is a great way to establish connections with your hybrid workforce. These fun events help you bond with your employees and build trust among them. When you organize team-building activities, you allow them to get involved in something they’re passionate about while having fun at the same time.
For instance, you may organize virtual murder mystery team building events by getting everyone on video chat so they can see each other during the game. After that, ensure to send invitations to all participants via email, including the date, time, and video conferencing platform link.
After everyone logs in, you may send in-depth details, like helpful instructions for playing the game using the chat feature. This strategy ensures that everyone will pay attention, helping you encourage active participation.
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Asking For Feedback Regularly
Collecting feedback is another vital factor contributing to improving your relationship with your hybrid workforce. This strategy helps you understand how well you can connect with them and what could be done better to enhance the connection between both parties involved in this process.
When asking for feedback from your workforce, you must respect their culture and time zone. For example, if you’re working with someone who lives in a specific region and only checks email once a day before leaving work for the day, don’t ask them for feedback right away. You can only do so until after they have the chance to respond to other messages that came in that day. Instead of pressuring them because the insight collection seems like an obligation, they might be able to give you good feedback that might improve the workforce.
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Hosting In-Person Meetups
Hosting regular meetups at your office is another good way to connect with your employees face-to-face while giving them a chance to know one another on a personal level. In doing so, your staff might be able to establish friendships that go beyond workplace relationships. As a result, you encourage them to have healthy team collaborations in the future, which minimizes conflict in your hybrid workplace.
As you plan in-person meetups, know that the best time to host this event depends on your employees’ availability and the nature of their work. For example, if your employees work remotely during the day but travel for work at night and on weekends, you may want to host an event during their travel time so that they can attend. Similarly, if some of your employees will be traveling for business during a specific time, consider scheduling an event.
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Leveraging Social Media
Social media is a great way to connect with your employees and make them feel like a team. You should use social media to engage with them and provide information about what’s happening in the company. If you’re not already, start using social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to share company news and updates with employees.
For instance, you may use public groups on Facebook and LinkedIn for informal discussions about work issues. These groups allow workers to ask questions and share experiences without contacting each manager directly. Then, you may set up a private Facebook group for your employees where you can share information about upcoming projects. Doing so prevents you from cluttering their news feeds or inboxes with messages that might not apply to their roles, which saves them time.
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Sending Digital Gifts
Gifts such as flowers and chocolates are a traditional way of thanking people for their hard work. However, modern alternatives like digital gift cards are more efficient ways to show employees that you appreciate them, especially if you don’t have time for a face-to-face meeting. Aside from that, you may send these items anywhere in the world at any time, making them ideal for recognizing remote workers.
For example, send a gift they can’t receive in their inboxes daily. Digital items like a funny meme or a link to an article about your industry will make your employees smile as they deal with deadlines. However, consider how much money each employee has spent on entertainment for them to get the most value from their digital gift card.
Key Takeaway
As you run a modern business, you have more options to make memorable experiences for your employees to help retain them in your company. Therefore, you must consider these five ways to develop connections with your hybrid workforce to boost team productivity and reduce employee reduction rates.
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