28 Feb Ensuring Hybrid Team Members have Equal Opportunities for Professional Growth

People all have different skills, values, talents and areas of expertise, and a thriving team needs a varied workforce to prosper. But when everyone brings a different perspective and skillset to the table, it can be difficult to ensure everyone has access to equal opportunities when it comes to their individual professional development.

With hybrid and remote working fast being the norm in many industries, people are seeking more flexibility in their roles than ever before. In this blog post, we will take a look at the common issues surrounding providing equal opportunities for your hybrid staff, and how to overcome these challenges.

Maintain communication

It can feel harder to build trust with a remote employee, especially if they will be helping you to manage your personal affairs, or if they’ll be involved in your finances and business information. To combat this, set up regular calls to get to know them and check in with their progress, remembering to offer support and let them know you’re available if they need to reach out. Arranging frequent team catch ups and encouraging team building, via exercises or informal social pages, is a great way for your hybrid and remote staff to feel part of the team.

By keeping everyone on an even playing field, regardless of where they work, you will be able to provide equal opportunities for all of your staff. This will also help to create a family-like work environment within your team, which has been shown to boost productivity and performance.

Set clear boundaries

If you have staff who work within your personal home or estate, they may also live with you. A common issue with home working of all types is that sometimes the lines between on duty and off duty can become blurred. This can lead to a less than satisfactory work/life balance, stress and other negative feelings. If your staff live in separate areas within your home, be sure not to call upon them during the times they are off-duty. Creating a clear divide between work and relaxation can help to alleviate any tension and ensure that all staff are treated fairly.

Create equal opportunities

It’s important to work with your employees to create individual progression plans, where you can design clear guidelines regarding the duties, responsibilities and goals for each member of your team. This is vital for retaining your staff long-term, as up to 94% of people would stay with their current employment longer if there was a clear pathway for career progression. Paying for professional development courses and training are a great way to show your team members that you’re invested in them.

By making this information available to the entire team, there is no ambiguity or room for inequality when it comes to promotions, bonuses or additional benefits awarded to staff members. Being transparent will help everyone feel united and respected, and that they have equal opportunity for growth and development, if they should want to pursue it.

Be people focused

Ultimately, people just want to feel valued and that their efforts are appreciated. By creating ways for each team or individual to have equal access to support and professional development, your staff will be happier and better equipped to achieve their individual goals, whilst working more efficiently and productively.