How to Keep a Hybrid Team Connected

At Omnia Education Partnerships, we believe that great work happens when people are trusted to find their own rhythm, supported by shared values and a strong sense of purpose.

Our values Excellence, Impact and Growth guide us every day. They shape how we work with our partners, what goals we set and how we work together as a team. These values are not abstract. They are visible in how we collaborate and in how we bring a hybrid team together.

For us, Excellence means doing things thoughtfully and with care. Impact means that what we do, and how we do it, makes a real difference. Growth means learning continuously, both as individuals and as a team. Together, these values bring purpose to our work and help us create meaningful goals.

Making Hybrid Work Work

Hybrid work offers many benefits for individuals and for company culture, but it also comes with its own challenges. Our goal at OEP is to make the most of flexibility while ensuring that everyone maintains a healthy work–life balance and can manage their schedules independently, with as much autonomy as possible, while also considering the needs of colleagues and clients. Within that framework, we encourage everyone to tailor their workdays to fit their own rhythm.

OEP’s way of working is built on flexibility and trust. Our experts may choose the environments that best support their work. We also encourage meeting up in other spaces when suitable, always keeping in mind data security and confidentiality. Currently, we are piloting an additional working space in central Helsinki at the request of our team. On our joint office days in our main office in Espoo, we come together to work on and discuss topics that affect the whole team, share updates on projects and enjoy a meal or coffee together. While working mostly remotely, gathering regularly is seen as essential, and we adjust the number of office days based on team feedback and needs.

There are many opinions about hybrid and remote work for a reason. For us, fully remote work is not the optimal solution. The key is that our in-person days always have a clear purpose. When we gather at the office, it is because there is something meaningful to do together, whether it is project collaboration, shared planning, team meetings or learning moments. Our work and projects require teamwork, and the whole team needs to come together at times. This approach has been easy for everyone to stand behind. Office days have a purpose that reflects the requirements of our work.

This balance is built on openness, shared routines and trust. Clear standards and agreed practices create a safe environment where independent decisions can be made confidently within a shared framework.

This approach has proven to work well. Our team members genuinely want to see each other and often arrange to meet for lunch or a quick discussion even on remote days. It is not unusual for colleagues to meet at the office just to share ideas over coffee or plan their next project face to face. This reflects what our team is about: highly driven professionals committed to achieving excellence together. The motivation comes from within, not from external demands.

Flexibility Works When There Is Clarity

Flexibility is sometimes seen as the opposite of structure, but in reality it works best when the ground rules are clear: how we reach each other, when we are available and how decisions are made. Clarity enables freedom.

At OEP, we have agreed on simple communication practices that make collaboration smoother. Flexible working hours and arrangements may mean that we are not all online at the same time, but this does not need to disrupt communication. Early birds can start their day early, and night owls can continue later when it suits them best. It is perfectly acceptable to reply to your colleague the next business day, and equally acceptable to send a message even if someone is not currently online. They will reply when they are next available. When something is urgent, we always make sure it is addressed promptly.

A key practicality in this is using dedicated communication platforms for teamwork, which allow notifications to be paused when needed and to agree on a dedicated channel for urgent communication. This is especially important in an expert organization, since deep focus work is an essential part of what we do. When focusing on deep work, we mark it in our calendars so others know we are concentrating and prefer not to be interrupted. During this time, it is fine to send a message since notifications are turned off and workflow can continue without disturbance.

This shows in practice how structures and agreed ground rules can support flexible working arrangements. The structures are designed to serve people, not the other way around. Independent decision-making works best when there are shared practices in place. Without them, collaboration can easily become fragmented or confusing. When we are involved in designing our own day, keeping in mind the boundaries and shared expectations, it creates purpose and commitment.

Listening and Presence Matter the Most

From a leadership and people perspective, one of the most important things is to truly listen and understand what people need, what works and what does not. In a hybrid team, the “hallway signals” might be missing, so we need to notice them in other ways, by asking, being present in meetings and creating space for informal and human conversations. Everyone in the team also needs to understand what is expected and what our goals are. Regular one-to-one discussions are a key part of this.

In practice, this means intentionally creating opportunities for casual discussions and fostering a culture where it is fine to call or send a message whenever needed and equally fine not to respond immediately if someone is focused or off work.

Listening and presence create the foundation for both Excellence and Impact, because people do their best work when they feel heard and valued. This is something we continuously reflect on and seek to improve.

Team Spirit Grows from Everyday Moments

Team spirit cannot be mandated. It grows from small, genuine moments of shared laughter, someone remembering to ask how you are doing and celebrating successes together. At OEP, we consciously create opportunities for connection, even remotely. Online coffee breaks, wellbeing challenges and team days help us show up as people, not just job titles.

These moments strengthen our Growth as a team and remind us why we do what we do and help build trust within the team.

Ultimately, It Is About Trust

Trust is the foundation of everything. When people feel seen, valued and treated fairly, they naturally take responsibility and show flexibility in return. Trust does not come from control, but from transparent, fair and human leadership without forgetting our high goals and standards of work.

It is also important to recognize that we are not perfect, and there is no fixed endpoint. Continuous growth is what drives us. What we do know is the direction we want to move toward, and we reflect on it regularly, learning, adjusting and keeping our antennas up. Staying aware helps us grow as individuals and as a team, ensuring we continue moving in the right direction together.

Hybrid work is not an obstacle to team spirit. It simply invites us to build it more intentionally in the spirit of our values: Excellence, Impact and Growth. This is how we work and how we grow together.