Building Strong Team Culture in a Hybrid Workplace

The shift to hybrid work has transformed how we operate, offering the flexibility of working remotely while still allowing for meaningful in-person collaboration. While this balance has a lot of perks, it’s not without its challenges—especially when it comes to keeping a strong team culture alive.

How do you stay connected when you’re not in the office every day? How do you foster the kind of collaboration that thrives on personal interaction? At (un)Common Logic, we’ve been asking these same questions as we navigate our own hybrid model. What we’ve found is that creating a dynamic and supportive culture is not only possible but can actually thrive in a hybrid setup—with a few intentional strategies in place.

Hybrid Work: The Best of Both Worlds, With Intentional Collaboration

Let’s be real: hybrid work is a gift. It offers the freedom to design our workdays around what works best for us—whether that’s from a home office, a cozy coffee shop, or sitting around the office with teammates. This flexibility has helped improve work-life balance, spark creativity, and has even allowed us to recruit top talent from a wider pool of applicants.

But, like any gift, it requires careful handling. One of the challenges we’ve seen is making sure that hybrid doesn’t turn into isolation, where everyone is in their own little bubble. That’s why we prioritize intentional in-office time—ensuring that the days we’re together are filled with meaningful collaboration and connection.

At (un)Common Logic, we get to choose when to work from home, but our team deliberately schedules in-office days when it makes sense for hands-on work. Whether it’s brainstorming sessions, team strategy meetings, or our beloved Taco Tuesdays before our weekly Search Team Meeting, being together in person allows for deeper, more spontaneous conversations that just don’t happen as easily over a quick IM or Zoom call.

It’s during these face-to-face interactions that the magic happens. Those are the moments when a spark of an idea turns into a full-fledged project or when a casual chat over tacos leads to solving a complex client challenge.

Keeping Culture at the Core

One thing we’ve learned through all the changes in work models is that our core values hold everything together. At (un)Common Logic, those values—to name a few: do what it takes to deliver excellent results, communicate directly and honestly, and always learn and try new things—guide us, whether we’re working from our home offices or collaborating in person. These aren’t just words on a page; they’re the heart of how we operate, and they’re the reason why we’ve been named a Top Workplace for 10 years running.

Our culture is what attracts amazing talent and helps us retain it. It’s the kind of culture where everyone feels empowered to do their best work, no matter where they are. And it’s something we’re deeply committed to nurturing, even as we grow.

Strategies for Building Connection in a Hybrid Environment

So, how do you build a strong team culture in a hybrid setting? It starts with finding the right balance between flexibility and in-person collaboration. At (un)Common Logic, we’ve found that a couple of days in the office each week creates the perfect mix. Those in-office days are when the real collaboration happens—whether it’s team-building exercises, performance reviews, or just grabbing lunch together to catch up.

Here are a few things we do to make the most of our hybrid model:

• Intentional In-Office Time: We schedule our in-office days to focus on high-level collaboration. This is when teams come together to work on projects that benefit from face-to-face interaction, brainstorming, or just getting everyone on the same page.
• Taco Tuesdays: Monthly, we get together for tacos before our Search Team Meeting. It’s a fun way to connect, share stories, and enjoy a little downtime before diving into the week’s priorities. These casual interactions go a long way in building camaraderie and trust.
• In-Office Socials: Once a month, we schedule in-office or off-campus social events that give everyone a chance to connect in a relaxed setting. These events range from trivia nights to team-building exercises, helping to strengthen bonds and keep things lighthearted.
• Face-to-Face Problem Solving: When there’s a complex issue to tackle, hopping into a quick meeting in person leads to more intentional and effective conversations. We’ve found that talking things through face-to-face vs. solely communicating via IMs or emails helps avoid misunderstandings and makes it easier to brainstorm and reach solutions faster.

On remote days, we make sure to stay connected with virtual check-ins and project management tools, but nothing beats the energy of being in the same room with your teammates, tackling a challenge together.

Growth and Development in a Hybrid Model

As we continue to grow at (un)Common Logic, our hybrid model plays a key role in supporting that expansion. It allows us to scale without losing the personal connections that define our culture.

We believe in a growth mindset, and that shows in everything from our in-office training programs to the mentorship opportunities that exist no matter where you’re working. Whether you’re learning a new skill remotely or sitting next to a colleague at the office, we create space for continuous growth. And those intentional moments—whether it’s a formal training or an impromptu chat in the break room—make all the difference in keeping us connected and learning together.

Scaling Without Losing Our Essence

One of the greatest challenges for any growing company is maintaining the culture that makes it special. At (un)Common Logic, we’re committed to scaling our team without losing sight of what makes us who we are. As we grow, we’ll continue to double down on our values, ensuring they remain at the heart of everything we do—whether that’s during an in-person brainstorming session or a remote team huddle.

Our hybrid work model isn’t just a way to get work done; it’s a thoughtful approach to maintaining the strong sense of community and collaboration that defines our culture. With a combination of flexibility, intentional in-office time, and a focus on personal connections, we’re building something that will last well into the future.

At the end of the day, it’s not just about where we work—it’s about intentional collaboration, working together to consistently produce high-quality results, and creating the space for every member of our team to be the best, most balanced version of themselves, in-and-out of the office.