The shift toward hybrid work exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since become a staple in all types of organizations. 

Although hybrid teams can offer a number of benefits, leaders often find that the practices they have come to depend on for managing in-person teams do not translate well to the hybrid context. And with hybrid team management being the responsibility of both leaders and team members alike, where can you look for opportunities for improvement?

In a new episode of the Cornell Keynotes podcast from eCornell, professor Brad Bell, director of the Center for Advanced Human Resource Studies at Cornell’s ILR School, shares ways that hybrid teams are mismanaged and presents strategies for effectively managing hybrid teams.

"I think a knee-jerk reaction of many leaders when they get in the context of leading a virtual hybrid team is, well, I can't see people like I normally would. I can't do management by walk around. So I really need to micromanage. . . . And you even see some organizations go as far as putting into place monitoring technology where we're tracking employees, keystrokes and things to know if they're working throughout the day.

The evidence shows that's actually the wrong approach for managers as teams become more virtual, as they become more hybrid, they actually perform much better when members feel empowered. They feel like they have autonomy. They feel like they could make decisions."

—Brad Bell

Learn strategies for creating a high-functioning work mode for all team members in Episode 41: Mismanaging Hybrid Teams.

eCornell offers more than 200 online certificate programs to help professionals advance their careers and organizations. Brad Bell is an author of seven eCornell programs:

• Hybrid Work Strategy
• Administrative Management Program
• HR Analytics
• Recruiting and Talent Acquisition
• HR Transformation
• Human Resources Management
• Strategic Human Resources Leadership

Visit Simplecast to read more about this episode, and join Cornell’s most celebrated scholars and industry experts for candid conversations on trending topics and current events by subscribing to the Cornell Keynotes podcast. 

Follow eCornell on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and X to get Cornell Keynotes podcast updates.

Quotes have been edited for clarity.