How To Impress Your Boss in a Hybrid Work Environment

You love hybrid work, but your boss might not. According to a meQuilibrium study, 61% of leaders place more value on in-person work. This means that in order to impress your boss in a hybrid work environment, you’ll need to be strategic. 

“One key factor in a hybrid environment is the loss of ‘water cooler’ talk. In a hybrid environment, you can’t take advantage of a brief chat while waiting for the coffee to brew, or popping in to see your boss is free in between meetings for a download, ays Rikki Goldenberg, executive leadership and career coach. “That means that interactions to impress your boss require intention and focus. You can’t hope to catch them in the elevator on their way out of the office, or that they’ll see how hard you’re working to meet a deadline.” 

According to Goldenberg, you’ll need to be even more proactive than usual and step up your communication game. Here are her best tips on impressing your boss in a hybrid workplace

1. Be extra proactive 

In order to get positively noticed by your boss in a hybrid environment, you have to take the lead. Goldenberg recommends setting up time with your boss and clearly outlining what you’d like to cover, from performance expectations to business goals. “Whether it’s a one-on-one or a review session, set the agenda and make sure your boss is aware of what you’re looking for from them,” she says. 

2. Manage expectations 

It’s also important to be forthcoming about any challenges or setbacks before things escalate, even if nobody is keeping tabs on you. “If you’re running behind on a project, don’t hide behind a computer screen. Instead, get ahead of things and share where you’re at – bonus points if you do it without pointing fingers,” says Goldenberg. 

3. Clarify communication channels

“We all have different preferences for how we like to communicate. Figure out what you prefer, and ask what your boss prefers. How do they like to use instant messaging versus email versus phone calls? If your boss doesn’t review materials over Slack, you want to make sure you’re dropping the right items in the right places for them – and for you,” according to Goldenberg. 

4. Show ‘how the sausage is made’

Goldenberg says that in a hybrid workplace, you need to “show how the sausage is made.” Being on top of your deliverables may actually backfire if you don’t show your boss what you are working on behind the scenes. 

“Have you heard the phrase, out of sight, out of mind? If you do your work easily, smoothly, without issue, it’s hard for your boss to recognize just how hard you’re working,” she says. “In your next one-on-one, be sure to share a little bit of the behind-the-scenes, not just the top line. That way, they’ll better understand what you’re up to.” 

5. Embrace clear and succinct communication

Clear and succinct communication is the name of the game when you want to keep your boss in the loop. Goldenberg suggests letting phone calls or Zoom calls be spaces for more in-depth chat but using brief and concise phrases when updating your boss about the status of your work, a project, or anything else they need to know about. 

“You want your notes to be easily searched for, understood, and absorbed,” says Goldenberg. 

6. Find opportunities to connect 

In a hybrid work environment, it’s crucial to find opportunities to connect with your boss in a meaningful way. “Skip over the, ‘What did you do this weekend?’ and try to form a closer bond with your boss by learning more about them,” says Goldenberg. 

She suggests asking questions such as “What’s the last thing you got really excited about?” or “Where are you excited to travel next?” to start a conversation. 

7. Avoid stressing out about the lack of facetime 

Yes, forming a strong relationship with your boss while working remotely takes more time and effort than if you were in front of your boss all the time. But you’ll want to avoid stressing out about the lack of facetime with your boss, which can negatively affect your performance. Focus on the factors you can control, such as the way you approach your work and communicate. 

“Truthfully, yeah, the folks that have more facetime will stick out in your boss’ mind. But, if you’re proactive, communicating clearly and managing expectations, you’ll still shine,” says Goldenberg.