"Then comes the pause-that slight hesitation before things turn official. Soon the updates are moving, action items are ticked off, and by 9:31 the call is over. That's it. Productive? Absolutely. The efficiency is impressive. But what's notably missing are the small but meaningful interactions that have been squeezed out as efficiency was gained -the side conversations, the shared laughs, the inside jokes that remind people they belong."
"But while flexibility has grown, connection has not always kept pace. The risk is not that hybrid weakens culture. It is that culture needs to be built differently. Employees may feel less visible if they are not in the office as often, or uncertain about how their contributions are recognized across a dispersed team. Over time, if overlooked, that gap can affect collaboration and belonging."
Weekly hybrid meetings often run efficiently but eliminate the informal interactions that foster belonging. Hybrid work delivers flexibility, reduced commuting, and sustainable rhythms for many employees. Connection, however, frequently lags behind flexibility, creating risks around visibility and recognition for dispersed team members. Culture must be intentionally rebuilt in new ways to ensure contributions are seen and people feel included. Without deliberate practices to cultivate connection, collaboration and belonging can decline. Practical, leadership-driven habits that prioritize personal check-ins and shared moments can pair flexibility with the meaningful connection necessary for better decisions and resilient teams.
Read at Forbes
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]