Founder and CEO of Silverbird.
In the ever-evolving landscape of the tech industry, the emergence of a hybrid work era has presented both challenges and opportunities for aspiring leaders looking to steer their startups to new heights. As the traditional boundaries of office spaces blur and remote work becomes the norm rather than the exception, the rules for building and leading successful tech ventures are undergoing a transformation.
In May 2020, when I launched my latest venture, we took our initial strides into an uncharted era of remote work. The luxury of office space was beyond our reach, both due to financial constraints and the complete lockdown in London. This pushed all interpersonal engagements into the digital realm.
Fast forward to 2023, and the company has transcended boundaries, with more than 150 employees spanning seven different time zones. The journey has been a continuous process of learning and adaptation. As we navigated this evolution, our approach to managing and nurturing a hybrid company underwent constant scrutiny and transformation. Now, I am eager to impart my newfound insights on how hybrid startups can be effectively built and managed by aspiring tech founders.
Finding The Right Balance Between Employee Flexibility And Productivity
There are many advantages of a remote work mode. For example, in a TechBullion article, titled “AI in Business Banking and Fintech Compliance: Interview with Georgy Babilashvili, co-founder of Silverbird,” my co-founder explained that remote working can allow you to benefit from top talent in lower-cost locations. He highlighted that following the pandemic, as companies embraced remote work, it became more common to look for senior professionals in different geographies.
When it comes to managing less experienced staff, I recommend taking a conventional approach and adhering to a straightforward principle: If you’re a newcomer or a junior team member, your designated space is within the confines of the office, be it virtual or physical. In my company, this guideline holds at least for the initial three to six months and allows employees to establish their reliability and navigate the essential learning curve embedded in the organizational culture.
My co-founder has also said that he thinks many employees take on more responsibility and show more drive when they work from home. For employees who need more guidance, “We set clear expectations and communicate more regularly, checking progress and giving guidance,” he told TechBullion.
Choosing A Work Mode Depending On The Nature Of The Employee Role
Navigating the realms of customer experience and sales in a remote work setting can pose challenges, particularly for new hires still familiarizing themselves with your company ethos. My approach involves immersing customer experience managers in a full five-day office schedule and gradually transitioning to a more flexible three-day arrangement as they adapt. Recognizing the absence of a one-size-fits-all solution, we tailor our policies to suit the dynamics of specific teams.
The conundrum deepens when considering the work mode for creative professionals such as engineers, product managers and marketers. Unlike roles with easily quantifiable outputs, the value of their creative endeavors is not always linear. In the pre-pandemic era, I championed the idea of granting creatives the freedom to manage their hours. I’m finding that this perspective is gaining mainstream acceptance as remote work continues to gather momentum.
Why Office Interactions Still Matter
As social beings, I believe humans benefit from the biological advantages of in-person work. Regardless of our creativity levels or introverted inclinations, I think most of us crave at least some degree of interpersonal interaction. Additionally, I’ve found that a change in environment can act as a mental boost, a feature often lacking in fully remote work policies.
Traditional office setups offer distinct advantages, especially for creative individuals. Informal conversations by the coffee machine have the potential to ignite innovative ideas and foster collaborations across departments. Despite the allure of remote work, I hold a belief that co-located creative teams frequently outshine their remote counterparts. The synergistic energy in a room filled with collaborative minds can be a genuine game-changer.
Hosting Offsite Events
Offsite events can be a secret sauce for a hybrid startup looking to foster a high-flying team. There’s a unique magic that happens when you bring people together in the physical realm. Offsite events offer leaders the chance to mentor, guide and inspire their team members in a more intimate setting. This can be instrumental in nurturing leadership skills and fostering a sense of direction within the team.
Offsite events can also serve as a great platform to celebrate team successes. Whether it’s achieving a milestone, hitting a target or completing a project, use these events as an opportunity for the team to come together and revel in their accomplishments. In my experience, recognizing and celebrating achievements boosts morale and motivates team members to continue performing at their best.
Constructing Spaces People Want To Work In
Before the onset of the pandemic, I observed the concept of shorter working hours and compressed workweeks gaining popularity among the younger workforce. The prospect of a four-day week or a four-hour workday was enticing. In my opinion, advocating for a four-day week means advocating for the wrong cause. The right path, in my view, is to construct businesses, office spaces and companies that people find compelling to work in—a place that excites them and is worth welcoming into their lives. Rather than reducing the number of days or hours, I suggest focusing on creating environments that people genuinely want to be a part of.
It is obvious that remote work is here to stay. However, the endurance of remote work doesn’t render physical office spaces obsolete. Striking a balance is key, which means preserving the enchantment of face-to-face collaboration while wholeheartedly embracing the freedom and flexibility offered by remote work.
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