Tech workers on a hybrid schedule enjoy some valuable perks beyond their regular compensation. For instance, they save an average of 72 minutes per day by not commuting and have more flexibility in balancing work and family life.
But recent studies show that a blend of in-office and remote work can significantly impact career development and collaboration, bringing both opportunities and challenges.
Many respondents who work remotely at least one weekday said remote work hinders rapport building and collaboration. Fewer than 40 percent said that working in a hybrid environment helps their career.
How can you keep your career and professional relationships moving forward while mitigating the potential downsides of hybrid work? Here are four strategies for making the most of your in-office days.
Summary
Schedule Activities That Benefit from In-Person Interaction
Smart and upwardly mobile tech professionals plan their in-office days around collaborative tasks and come prepared to maximize their productivity and that of their teammates, noted Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, author of "Returning to the Office and Leading Hybrid and Remote Teams."
This approach often involves coordinating with team members and managers to be in the office on the same days and sharing meeting itineraries in advance, transforming the office into a dedicated space for teamwork.
"There’s no benefit in coming into a sparsely populated office where people continue to spend a significant portion of their workday on Zoom calls or Slack," advised Jennifer Dulski, CEO and founder of Rising Team and lecturer at the Stanford School of Business.
Too many people do the same things every day whether they work at home or in the office. Instead, use the time for what in-office days are meant to support.
For example, come prepared to focus on brainstorming, idea generation sessions, and learning from your co-workers and managers by observing them in action.
Observing a teammate’s work through a Zoom screen offers a limited and potentially inaccurate picture compared to witnessing someone perform their job and interact with others in an actual work setting.
Be intentional about scheduling your time. If your manager or team lead doesn’t ensure that everyone comes into the office on the same day, take the initiative to reach out to your colleagues. Or point out the benefits to your manager and volunteer to help with scheduling, Dulski suggested.
There’s nothing wrong with suggesting improvements to processes or structures that will help mitigate the downsides of hybrid work models. And frankly, it’s vital if you want to continue working from home part-time.
Be Ready to Mentor and Be Mentored
Mentoring and leadership development thrive on the subtlety and nuance of face-to-face communication, which is crucial for building the trust required for mentees to be vulnerable and open to guidance, Tsipursky noted.
The ability to read body language and nonverbal cues in person is particularly valuable for complex and nuanced discussions, making in-person interactions more effective for training and development scenarios.
In fact, statistics show that in-person mentorship can lead to more significant positive impacts on mentees, including increased confidence and professional outcomes. Plus, mentoring others can significantly boost your visibility to senior management by showcasing leadership qualities and a commitment to team development and organizational success.
The lack of casual interactions with senior leaders can make it more challenging to gain visibility when you work remotely. Make an effort to increase your visibility by participating in cross-functional teams or providing in-person updates on high-visibility projects during your in-office days.
Check In With Your Manager
Having regular check-ins and face-to-face communication with your manager during your in-office days is crucial.
Face-to-face requests for reviews or feedback are significantly more effective because in-person communication allows for the observation of nonverbal cues such as body language, gestures, and tone of voice, which can convey additional meaning and build trust.
Without regular check-in meetings, your manager may have no idea what you’re doing or whether you’re meeting or exceeding expectations or running into roadblocks they can remove.
The conversation should be mutually beneficial. This is the perfect time to ask your manager how you can support their efforts and better contribute to the team's success.
Being in the office only a few days a week should encourage you to engage in open and honest conversations with your boss, rather than avoiding them or relying solely on their observations of your work.
In fact, being purposeful about engaging in conversations with your manager, mentoring colleagues, spearheading conflict resolution, or serving on cross-functional teams can provide opportunities to build valuable soft skills compared to fully remote work.
Foster Deeper Connections and Relationships
The practice of "coffee badging" (where employees show up at the office just long enough to swipe their badge, grab a coffee, and chat with colleagues before returning home to work remotely) should be avoided at all costs.
It reflects an outdated focus on "time in the office" rather than actual contribution.
Don’t just engage in superficial conversations like discussing the weather or your favorite sports teams. While small talk can be a starting point for building rapport, strive to get to know people on a deeper level and forge true connections by asking better questions.
Examples include:
What’s the best project you’ve worked on?
What’s a skill you’d like to develop?
Have you read any good career-related books lately?
What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken, and did it pay off?
What metrics do you use for gauging project success and making decisions?
When you have limited time, being purposeful and strategic in your actions is often the key distinction between success and failure.