Building Connection in Your Hybrid Accounting Team

Running a hybrid team in the accounting world? You're not alone. Many of us are juggling the challenge of giving our team members the autonomy and flexibility they crave while still maintaining that sense of togetherness that makes great work happen.

Here's the thing – more emails and marathon video meetings aren't going to cut it. Trust me, we've all been there, and it just leads to Zoom fatigue and frustrated team members. Instead, let's focus on what actually works: fostering real emotional connection, team bonding, and yes, even some fun to make up for not sharing the same office space.

Start with a Working Agreement

First things first – get your team together to create a working agreement. This isn't some corporate policy document gathering dust in a folder. This is a living document where each team member gets to share their needs. When do they do their best work? How often do they actually need to meet face-to-face versus virtually? What communication style works best for them?

I've seen teams transform when they take the time to understand each other's working styles. Your morning person might be most creative at 7 AM, while your night owl does their best analytical work after 3 PM. When everyone knows this, they can better support each other and plan collaborative work accordingly.

Check In Regularly (But Make It Meaningful)

Regular check-ins are crucial, but I'm not talking about those "how's everything going?" conversations that go nowhere. Mix it up – sometimes it's a quick email, sometimes a chat message, and yes, sometimes it needs to be a real-time phone call or video chat.

The key is being intentional about it. Are you checking in to solve a problem, celebrate a win, or just maintain connection? Be clear about your purpose, and your team will appreciate the genuine interest in their well-being and work.

Plan Strategic In-Person Time

Here's where you need to be smart about your in-person gatherings. Don't bring everyone together just to sit through presentations they could have watched on their own. Save those precious face-to-face moments for collaboration-heavy work – brainstorming sessions, problem-solving workshops, or tackling complex client situations that benefit from real-time discussion.

Celebrate the Small Wins

In a traditional office, you'd see the smile when someone finishes a challenging reconciliation or the relief when they finally crack a difficult client issue. In a hybrid world, we miss those nonverbal cues that show appreciation and acknowledgment.

Make it a point to celebrate the small wins and praise your team members frequently. Did someone handle a difficult client conversation particularly well? Say so. Did they find a more efficient way to process month-end? Acknowledge it. These moments of recognition matter more than you might think.

Get Creative with Shared Experiences

This is where you can have some fun with it. Maybe your team watches a virtual performance together, or you all order the same type of lunch and eat "together" on a video call. I know it might sound a bit silly, but these shared experiences create memories and inside jokes that bond teams together.

The accounting profession can be serious enough – a little creativity in how we connect with our teams can go a long way toward building the kind of workplace culture where people actually want to stick around.

Remember, building connection in a hybrid team isn't about recreating the traditional office experience. It's about being intentional, creative, and genuinely caring about your team members as whole people, not just the work they produce.

Until next time,