6 tips for creating strong work connections in a hybrid office, according to an expert

If working remotely during the pandemic made staying connected with coworkers a challenge, a new era of hybrid work is going to make things even trickier.

Laysha Ward is certain “the future of work will be hybrid” and, as Target’s executive vice president and chief external engagement officer, she has an idea of what it takes to engage and deepen relationships with team members, leaders and community stakeholders.

The pandemic has made staying connected harder but also pushed people to realize how much they need it at work, at home and in their community, Ward tells CNBC Make It: “We need human relationships now more than ever coming out of the pandemic and in the midst of racial reckonings and the uncertainty that’s happening around the world.”

To be sure, Ward has more than 30 years of experience building professional connections during her tenure at Target and knows not everyone will have an easy time of it. But feeling connected with colleagues could help people feel more satisfied at work, she adds, particularly during a period of high turnover in the white-hot labor market. “I believe when employees feel they belong, they’re more engaged, perform better and are more likely to stay,” Ward says. “Even outside of the workplace, we crave that sense of belonging and community as well.”

She offers six tips for establishing strong connections with colleagues in a pandemic-era hybrid environment.

First, she encourages people where possible to get back to some in-person human interaction. She recalls a recent business trip to New York City to visit staff at retail Target stores. “It was inspiring to be back in community with our team and with our partners,” she says, adding that she’s trying to do the same with friends and family as well.

Second, she recommends leveraging both traditional “old-school” methods and new technology to stay in touch. “I sometimes send people handwritten notes, or call and text, alongside using apps like Zoom or Teams,” Ward says. “The future of work will be hybrid, and making sure people have the tools to reconnect is really important.”

To that end, Ward recommends people expand their networks digitally beyond who they interact with every day, “whether it’s LinkedIn or, or even internal tools in companies like Slack that allow us to stay connected, get to know one another, and share insights that help us feel connection in community.”

Ward’s fourth suggestion is to be flexible and empathetic. She encourages people to remember “this is a very personal journey, and we have to meet people where they are.”

With all those considerations in mind, Ward says to make a plan and start slowly. “Make a list of people you want to connect with. Maybe it’s someone you fell out of contact with, or someone new you just started working with, or someone in your network you’d like to develop a relationship with. Start with one person.”