Not all leaders are worth following; some lead with authority; others lead with influence. T<\/span>he main difference isn’t in where they sit in the organization. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It’s how they build trust, communicate with intention, and keep their teams connected, even when they’re not working in the same place. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n As John Maxwell once said<\/span>,<\/span><\/span><\/u> “People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision.” This is especially true in a hybrid setup. With teams working both in the office and from home, leaders need to be more intentional in how they lead, communicate, align expectations<\/span>,<\/span><\/span><\/u> and create a sense of connection regardless of where people are working.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n In this article, I’d like to share the four pillars I follow – and have worked for me – in leading hybrid team.<\/span><\/p>\n Every successful hybrid team starts with a clear structure. When people know their role, who they report to, and what’s expected of them, it’s much easier to stay aligned and work together effectively.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Without that clarity, responsibilities can overlap, communication can become confusing, and accountability can suffer. From my experience, building that structure starts long before an employee joins the team.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n Below are some of the things we usually do:<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We don’t wait until onboarding to discuss expectations. We start during the recruitment process and continue reinforcing them throughout an employee’s journey.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n This includes:<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n Clearly defining roles and responsibilities.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Explaining reporting lines, from Junior Associates to Team Leaders and Managers.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Discussing service level agreements (SLAs) and team expectations.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Reinforcing these through onboarding, one-on-one meetings, and regular performance check-ins.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n By doing this early on, everyone understands where they fit within the team and what they’re accountable for from day one.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n No team stays the same forever. As the organization grows, priorities shift and workloads change; leaders need to ensure the team adapts together instead of navigating changes on their own. This is why communication becomes just as important as the structure itself. This is why we hold regular team meetings and one-on-one conversations to:<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n Share business updates and changing priorities.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Review workloads and team capacity.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Address challenges before they become bigger issues.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Provide guidance and support where it’s needed.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Before redistributing work, we also consider several factors:<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n Current workload and capacity.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n individual skills and strengths.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Business priorities.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Areas where additional support may be needed.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Most importantly, we make sure any changes in responsibilities are communicated clearly so everyone stays aligned.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n One of the biggest adjustments we made after moving to a hybrid setup was becoming more intentional about staying connected.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n To support our team better, we always make sure to do:<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n These changes helped create more visibility, improve collaboration, and ensure everyone knew where to go for guidance when challenges arise.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n If there’s one thing I’ve learned about leading a hybrid team, it’s that communication is one of the biggest factors in keeping everyone aligned.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n On top of that, it comes down to four simple principles that I believe every hybrid leader should follow:<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n Clarity<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 Be clear about expectations, priorities, and responsibilities, so everyone knows what’s expected of them.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Consistency<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 Communicate regularly to keep the team informed and aligned, especially when priorities change.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Accessibility<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 Make yourself available. Sometimes, people simply need someone they can approach for guidance or support.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Listening<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 Communication isn’t just about speaking. It’s also about taking the time to listen, understand concerns, and encourage open conversations.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n These principles have helped us build an environment where people feel informed, supported, and connected, regardless of where<\/span> they’re working.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n With these principles in mind, here are a few practical ways to strengthen communication within a hybrid team:<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Another thing I’ve learned is that not every conversation should happen the same way. Choosing the right communication channel makes it easier for everyone to stay informed without creating <\/span>unnecessary noise.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n Here’s how we typically communicate as a team:<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n Microsoft Teams<\/span><\/strong> for quick updates and day-to-day coordination.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Team meetings and calls<\/span><\/strong> for discussions that require alignment, coaching, problem-solving, or decision-making.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Email<\/span><\/strong> for formal communication, documentation, and important announcements.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n The goal is to keep communication simple, effective, and easy for everyone to follow.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n One of the biggest misconceptions about hybrid leadership is that check-ins need to happen only when there’s a problem.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n In reality, consistent communication helps prevent problems from happening in the first place. <\/span>That’s why as much as possible, we maintain a strong presence on Microsoft Teams and are available daily to support the team. In addition, I also do:<\/span><\/p>\n Regular team meetings to discuss priorities and share updates<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n One-on-one check-ins to provide coaching and address challenges<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Additional discussions whenever business needs or priorities change<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Communication isn’t only about tasks, deadlines, or project updates. That\u2019s why within my team; I intentionally create space for conversations that aren’t strictly work-related during our regular meetings. And whenever, we hold our quarterly onsite engagement activities, we also take the opportunity to:<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n Celebrate milestones<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Welcome new hires<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Participate in team-building activities that strengthen our culture, foster collaboration, and promote a strong sense of connection, engagement, and belonging.<\/span> <\/span> \u00a0<\/p>\n These <\/span>moments may seem small, but they go a long way in strengthening relationships and building a culture where people genuinely enjoy working together.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n![\"business-colleagues-blog\"](\"https:\/\/www.dvphilippines.com\/hs-fs\/hubfs\/business-colleagues-blog.jpg?width=1434&height=600&name=business-colleagues-blog.jpg\")
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Related: <\/span>Redefining the Workplace: Why Hybrid is More Than Just a Trend<\/a> <\/span><\/h3>\n
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Pillar 1: Team Structure\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
a. Set expectations early on\u00a0<\/h3>\n
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b. Keep everyone aligned as priorities change\u00a0<\/h3>\n
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c. Be intentional about how you lead<\/h3>\n
Read: Understanding the Work-from-Home Policy in the Philippines<\/u><\/a> <\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/h3>\n
Pillar 2: Communication<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
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a. Use the right communication channel\u00a0<\/h3>\n
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b. Stay present, even from a distance\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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c. Make time for conversations beyond work\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nRead Next: Hybrid Work Success: Tips for a Smooth and Productive Setup<\/a> <\/span><\/strong> <\/span><\/h3>\n
Pillar 3: Accountability\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n