6 tips for maintaining a strong corporate culture in the age of hybrid working

Reinforcing corporate culture: 6 key tips

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Tip 1: Integrate the hybrid working model right from the onboarding phase

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To imbue new talent with the company's culture, values and organizational mode of operation, the integration process must be based on the principles of hybrid work. This approach aims to offer a fluid, enriching experience, even in the face of competition from new working models. In this context, new employees must :

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• Discover and learn the codes and rules of life associated with this new organization. For example, the number of teleworking days allowed per week, or how to reserve a workstation or work area;
• Dedicated rooms in which to interact with new colleagues, such as common rooms or strategic exchange areas;
• Spend more time in the office during the first few weeks to better integrate into the nature of the company.

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Tip no. 2: Use communication tools to reinforce a sense of belonging

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There should be no differentiation between employees who visit the office every day and those who work remotely. To guarantee an equitable experience, the sharing of corporate culture must be multi-channel, in order to effectively convey shared values and vision.

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For managers, this plays a key role in maintaining organizational cohesion and ethics. This can include actions such as bringing teams together with conversational tools such as Slack, Teams or Zoom, for example. It is also possible to install cameras in meeting rooms, enabling staff to share information and ideas, regardless of the nature of their workplace.

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To develop a sense of belonging within teams, communication must be asynchronous, i.e. shared between the different employees, whatever the organizational mode used. And to ensure that everyone has access to the information shared at meetings, you need to communicate it in writing, using specific means such as summary notes or minutes.

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However, avoid an excess of tools! Technology should enhance team communication and creativity, without becoming a constraint. To ensure this, limit the number of information channels within the framework of a fluid collaborative method. 

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Tip no. 3: embody the company's values through the manager (the federator)

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The manager is the ideal person to convey the company's values to employees. To reinforce the employee experience and develop a sense of belonging that reflects the company's culture, he or she can :

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• Establish rituals linked to activity-based working, by choosing a workspace according to the type of interaction desired. For example, introduce a compulsory face-to-face day each week for a team breakfast;
• Organize exceptional, unifying events on external premises, such as a day at a coworking facility where a speaker addresses professional issues to inspire and motivate the team;
• Promote a culture of feedback and results, with a progress review every two weeks ;
• Apply a participative management style by involving employees in decision-making actions, thereby strengthening team spirit and internal agreement;
• Set up a precise framework with clear rules (e.g. turn on the camera remotely, come to the office for important meetings...).

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The employee experience is fundamental and a priority for corporate culture, as it directly reflects the objective of well-being at work. By fostering professional fulfillment, it generates lasting employee motivation. More committed and effective, they have a positive impact on the company's productivity.

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Tip 4: Embody corporate culture through workspaces

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Premises are an essential element in instilling the company's culture and every value it stands for. How can we achieve this?

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• Define suitable creative spaces, such as a "Creative Lab" for a technology-focused company or reception desks for a law firm, for example;

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But how do you bring this culture to life for employees working remotely? Here are a few benefits to consider:

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• Offer external coworking spaces so that employees can meet in dedicated work areas close to home;
• Offer goodies that reflect the company's ethos and identity, such as water bottles or office supplies in the brand's colors.

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To strengthen bonds between employees and boost team commitment, you can also create fun and friendly events, such as sports challenges, meals or seminars.

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Corporate culture must constantly reinvent itself to keep pace with employee needs, and offer innovative solutions, such as the installation of virtual reality rooms, to boost corporate life and stimulate innovation.

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Tip 5: Rearrange work spaces

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With hybrid working, you'll see a reduction in the occupancy of your premises. It's an opportunity to reorganize space by, for example, transforming individual workspaces into collaborative offices. For example, transforming individual spaces into collaborative offices or multifunctional zones maximizes space utilization and enhances collaboration. You could integrate spaces reserved for informal meetings, soundproof booths for calls and videoconferences, and relaxation areas conducive to creativity.

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While we're on the subject of reorganizing workspaces, it's worth noting that the flex office not only improves the employee experience, but also develops a sense of belonging. 

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In this model, each employee can choose their workplace according to their tasks and preferences: an open space workstation for collaborative work, a secluded room for concentration, or even an external coworking space depending on requirements.

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What's more, rethinking office layout helps create a more dynamic and innovative corporate culture. By promoting open, shared environments, companies encourage cross-departmental exchanges, strengthen team cohesion and facilitate knowledge sharing.

Tip 6: Promote continuous training and adaptability in a hybrid environment

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Hybrid working means regular adjustments for teams and managers, especially in a context where tools and working methods are constantly evolving. Ongoing training is essential to reinforce the company's culture of innovation and adaptability.

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By investing in specific training courses, you help employees to make better use of digital tools, develop new skills and grasp the challenges of hybrid working. This approach also fosters team cohesion and reduces the risk of disengagement by cultivating a learning mindset. Training courses can be offered online or face-to-face, with flexible formats that respect the organization of each employee.

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Last but not least, these initiatives help reinforce the organization's ethics and build a shared vision in which everyone is encouraged to improve, in line with the company's values. By supporting the skills development of its teams, the company not only preserves the quality of its services, but also creates a strong and lasting lever of commitment in a hybrid working model.

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Corporate culture: the solution for team building in the age of hybrid work

Ultimately, hybrid working does not represent a threat to corporate culture. Quite the contrary, with the right measures and a carefully defined framework. With the right approach, this new organizational mode can become a real asset for developing a sense of belonging and fostering team spirit. To achieve these objectives, managers must, above all, avoid isolating remote workers and maintain good cohesion between workgroups.

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As you can see, the workspace is also one of the major levers for increasing the sense of belonging to the company and sustaining individual commitment. The reorganization of premises takes on its full meaning when combined with the hybrid work model.

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Let Worklib help you reallocate your work environments so that your employees can enjoy spaces that are perfectly adapted to their needs and constraints.