Distance Without Disconnect: How to Maintain Connection When Managing Hybrid Teams

Let’s cut straight to it - hybrid working, splitting our time between home and office, is the new norm. As businesses continue adapting to the hybrid working model, mastering how to manage a hybrid team has become a non-negotiable skill. Whether you’re leading a hybrid team for the first time or looking to improve hybrid working practices, understanding what makes hybrid team collaboration effective is critical to business success. 

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Most of us are back in the office 2-3 days a week, balancing home comforts with office camaraderie. The big question: How do we maintain genuine connections, productivity, and ensure everyone feels valued in a hybrid setup?

What Employees Actually Want and Expect

Today’s workforce knows what it wants - and rightly so. According to Gallup’s 2025 State of the Global Workplace report, flexibility, clear communication, trust, and proactive workplace wellbeing programmes are top priorities. With employee engagement facing significant challenges, especially among managers, it's clear employees seek genuine care for their mental health, support from leaders, and a balanced work-life experience.

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Key expectations from employees include:

• Clearly defined hybrid working policies.
• Genuine investment in mental wellbeing.
• Transparent communication and a culture built on trust.

Why Trust is Even More Critical for Hybrid Teams

Hybrid setups can unintentionally foster disconnect unless actively managed. PwC’s Consumer Insights Survey (Feb 2023) reveals the need for consistent and honest communication as essential for hybrid success, ensuring employees feel supported regardless of location.

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Here's how trust can be effectively nurtured:

• Frequent Communication: Regularly scheduled updates reduce uncertainty.
• Clear Expectations: Defined roles, responsibilities, and deliverables eliminate ambiguity.
• Visible Leadership: Leaders actively participating in both remote and office-based interactions foster inclusivity and trust.

Practical, Expert-Backed Strategies for Genuine Connection

At PUSH, we believe in solutions for hybrid team management that are grounded in expert insights and real-world effectiveness. Here are proven approaches with clear steps for easy implementation:

1. Purpose-Driven Hybrid Meetings

• Implementation: Set clear meeting agendas in advance, assign roles (such as facilitator, note-taker, and timekeeper), and follow Google's recommended blueprints for meeting formats, such as team meetings, decision-making sessions, or brainstorms, to ensure structure and equal participation for remote and in-office attendees.
• Example: Use Google’s five blueprints for hybrid meeting success, which include shared digital agendas and assigned rotating roles, which are particularly useful when managing a hybrid team.
  
  

2. The "Check-In" Method by Brené Brown

• Implementation: Start each meeting by allowing each participant 1-2 minutes to briefly share their current state or challenges. Keep this structured yet informal to encourage authentic sharing.
• Example: Introduce a quick "emotion wheel" check-in, where team members choose words from an emotion chart to succinctly express how they feel.
  
  

3. Reverse Mentoring Sessions

• Implementation: Pair senior leaders with junior employees for scheduled monthly mentoring sessions. Establish clear topics of discussion (e.g. technology trends, company culture, generational perspectives) to ensure focus and relevance.
• Example: IBM's reverse mentoring programme clearly defines mentorship roles and tracks feedback systematically to foster learning and development.
  
  

4. The 15-Minute Team Huddle

• Implementation: Schedule a daily or bi-weekly standing huddle at a consistent time. Keep it brief - each team member should share their top priorities for the day, highlight blockers, and quickly align on shared goals. Use a simple structure and avoid deep dives to maintain focus.
• Example: Follow SnackNation’s recommended daily huddle format, which breaks down how to run an engaging 15-minute meeting that keeps hybrid teams aligned, motivated, and accountable.
  
  

5. "Walk and Talk" Meetings

• Implementation: Encourage one-on-one meetings or informal discussions to take place as walking meetings, either outdoors or within office campuses. Use them for high-level check-ins, creative brainstorms, or sensitive topics. Let participants know the purpose in advance, but keep the tone conversational and energising.
• Example: Walking meetings were a preferred format for Steve Jobs during important conversations, including product discussions with Jony Ive. According to Inc., walking boosts creativity and cognitive function, making it a smart choice for those leading a hybrid team who are looking to cut through the noise and make conversations more impactful.
  
  

6. Wellbeing Power Hours

• Implementation: Schedule regular, protected wellbeing time in the team's calendar - ideally weekly or bi-weekly. These 'power hours' can include rotating hybrid team activities such as mindfulness sessions, movement breaks, expert talks, or reflective team check-ins. The key is consistency and variety.
• Example: At PUSH, we help clients move beyond lip service and embed meaningful wellbeing practices into the rhythm of hybrid working. For example, we’ve supported organisations like Rightmove in designing tailored wellbeing initiatives, including weekly wellbeing time that actually gets used. We've also contributed to strategic planning for businesses like Accenture, helping translate high-level wellbeing ambition into real, practical moments of connection, reflection, and restoration for hybrid teams.

The Critical Role of Mental Health in Hybrid Workplaces

Mental health in the workplace has never been more important. Deloitte’s UK Mental Health Report 2024 underscores that organisations with strong mental health initiatives experience significantly higher employee satisfaction and productivity, highlighting the substantial economic benefits of prioritising employee mental health.

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Recommended best practices include:

• Accessible and well-promoted mental health resources.
• Regular mental health pulse surveys.
• Manager training for early detection of mental health concerns.

How PUSH Can Transform Your Hybrid Experience

Hybrid is here to stay, and PUSH specialises in making hybrid work better. Our tailored employee wellbeing programmes are grounded in practical experience and proven strategies:

• Tailored Mental Health Workshops: Interactive sessions with actionable tools for managing stress and building resilience.
• Authentic Hybrid Team-Building: Engaging activities designed to foster genuine connections across teams.
• Personalised Wellbeing Coaching: Targeted support through one-to-one and group coaching to enhance individual and team resilience.
• Manager Development Programmes: Training specifically designed around our management behaviours programme, equipping managers with the skills to effectively lead hybrid teams, enhance team performance, foster open communication, set clear expectations, and cultivate a culture of accountability and trust.

Ready to Elevate Your Hybrid Work Environment?

Hybrid working can genuinely empower teams - if done right. At PUSH, we're ready to help your hybrid teams thrive, stay connected, and perform at their best.

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Let’s discuss how PUSH can make a genuine difference for teams adapting to hybrid working.

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Contact us to find out how we can best support you and your team, check out our management training programmes, or subscribe to Cate’s newsletter for insights you can actually use.