02/16/2022

Five Challenges of Hybrid Work

Here's how to overcome them

One thing is clear about the future of work: At least in the near term — and possibly for much longer — hybrid work arrangements are going to be the norm for many organizations, in industries ranging from tech to pharmaceuticals to academia. There are good reasons why many companies and employees are excited about this mix of in-person and remote work — and equally good reasons why many feel trepidation about the shift.

I've studied global teams and virtual teamwork for close to 25 years. In my recent executive education teaching and conversations with senior leaders and middle managers, I've heard the same concerns about hybrid work come up frequently, and my MBA and undergraduate students who are thinking about their post-graduation employment options echo them. The most important concerns they're raising fall under what I call the "5C challenges:" communication, coordination, connection, creativity and culture.

Some companies, managers and employees have been familiar with the five Cs for a long time because they've worked with geographically distributed, virtual teams for many years — even decades. There's much we can learn from their experience, as well as from research done by management scholars well before the pandemic.

Please select this link to read the complete article from the Harvard Business Review.