How to Bring Hybrid and Remote Teams Together

Workplaces have become blended families in recent years, with employees working from home, the office, or a mix of both. Yet, despite some abandoning their cubicles for their homes, the need for collaboration and team building hasn’t gone anywhere. That’s why many organizations are using out-of-the box thinking to maintain camaraderie during this new era of fused together participation.

The benefits of collaboration are wide-reaching, with a Stanford study finding that teamwork can boost motivation and enjoyment. Perhaps unsurprisingly, nearly 80% of the workforce used collaboration tools on the job in 2021, according to Gartner research.

Here are some ways organizations can utilize technology to improve collaboration among in-person, remote, and hybrid workers.

1. A shared virtual workspace

Most modern workers have likely already experienced the benefits of collaborating on platforms such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom, which dramatically rose in popularity due to the pandemic. Such solutions can be especially useful in dynamic, deadline-driven environments where questions need real-time answers and timely brainstorming is key. It’s also a practical approach for slower-paced newsrooms, as it can help colleagues feel connected.

Research has highlighted the importance of collaboration in the workforce–and the consequences for companies that aren’t fostering a synergetic environment. A Zippia study found 56 percent of employers connect with employees using both social media and online collaboration tools. Doing so pays off, with companies reporting that such efforts reduce turnover rates by half. Conversely, 86 percent of managers said a lack of collaboration hurt their organization.

2. Personality quizzes

It’s become common for workplaces to encourage colleagues to independently complete personality tests and share their results during a subsequent meeting. The task isn’t just for fun; test results can provide valuable insights into a person’s communications style, workplace habits, and cultural fit. It’s also an opportunity for colleagues to learn more about each other during a time when face-to-face interactions are rare.

Personality quizzes have become common in the hiring process as well, to help determine whether candidates would be the right match. According to the Harvard Business Review, about 76 percent of organizations with more than 100 employees use aptitude and personality tests while selecting candidates. There are free and low-cost options available, such as 16personalities.com or the True Colors test.

3. Building employee morale

Team building doesn’t always have to involve talking shop. It can also be an opportunity for colleagues to let loose and have a little fun. In recent years, virtual happy hours, trivia nights, and online escape rooms have become popular ways of strengthening relationships among colleagues.

Such activities can help build happier workplaces, encourage collaboration, and help alleviate workplace stress. It can also help people feel more connected to their employers, a perk that can lead to a 75 percent engagement boost, the ADP Research Institute found.

4. Internal social networks

Many organizations have launched internal social media feeds, which serve as a space to share workplace success stories, answer questions, and get to know more about colleagues. Topics can range from photos of employee pets, to a collaborative discussion on quarterly results.

The platform serves as a place to educate, network, share messages of interest, and collaborate in real-time.

Companies are also using external networks such as LinkedIn to connect. Many are going beyond those main platforms to collaborate via hyper-focused professional groups. For instance, content strategists are collaborating on the Slack networking group Superpath, where they’re connecting with colleagues at other companies and sharing best practices in their respective fields.

5. Utilizing existing tools

When building collaboration, it’s also important to consider the tools that are already at your employees’ disposal. Docusign is helping by offering more than 350 integrations that allow users to complete tasks in applications they’re already using on a day-to-day basis, such as Slack, Teams and Salesforce.

Our tools help teams streamline workflows, collaborate, and connect with colleagues in real-time. For instance, electronic signature solutions allow sales teams to send contracts for signature to anyone with an email address. Rather than waste time and money printing, signing, scanning, faxing and mailing contracts for completion, agreements can be digitally sent and signed from a computer or mobile device. Teams can also track where agreements are in the approval process, making collaboration easier and the whole process faster.

Whether colleagues are working together in person or collaborating remotely, identifying efficiencies can be key.

Signup for a free Docusign trial to learn how eSignature can make collaborating easier.