ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the communication challenges of hybrid working and offers solutions to improve online and in-person interactions. It begins by drawing lessons from the Titanic disaster, arguing that in complex organisations, communication breakdowns, not just technological failures, can lead to disaster. The chapter explores how hybrid working disrupts social norms and undermines the ‘birdsong’ of office chatter that fosters creativity. It suggests that communication in virtual teams should be ‘bursty’, with periods of intense interaction followed by periods of deep focus. For diverse, global teams, it recommends explicit acknowledgment of differences, bridging communication styles and equal participation management. Readers will get useful tips on how to bring back the energy of working together while working remotely, by changing the way meetings are run and dealing with different points of view. The convenience of hybrid working does not have to mean sacrificing innovation or culture if purposeful communication strategies are used. This chapter provides leaders with the tools they need to reconnect dispersed employees through targeted digital interactions and strategic in-person gatherings.
