HOW TO CREATE CULTURE IN A REMOTE TEAM
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced many businesses to quickly adapt to remote working. Although the government has started encouraging people to return to work safely where they can, many believe that this transition to remote working will be long term.
Remote working has benefitted employees in saving time and money commuting, as well as increasing flexibility and productivity. However, working remotely can feel isolating and leave some employees feeling detached from the team.
To prevent this, it’s important for managers to know how to maintain that sense of togetherness, that once glued everyone together within the office environment, and use this to create a healthy culture amongst the team when working remotely.
Here we provide a few tips on how this can be done…
Implement a communication channel
Implementing a dedicated communication channel, such as Microsoft Teams, is an excellent way for team members to keep up to date with each other and work collaboratively. Encouraging the use of these channels, instead of email, will allow more interaction and prevent the team from forming bad habits where they rely on only using email and not having regular face to face conversations.
Virtual check-ins and socials
Having weekly check-ins scheduled with managers or peers will provide a good support system for team members and allow regular communication. Bringing the team together by doing virtual socials or team building activities, such as a virtual quiz or picnic, will also add an element of fun to the team dynamic and boost morale.
Provide opportunities
Working remotely offers time to focus on personal development. Managers should therefore provide training opportunities or opportunities for career progression. This is an excellent way to re-engage and motivate employees, as well as retain their talent.
Train managers
To have a high performing remote team, it is essential that they are effectively managed. Managers should undergo regular training so that they are knowledgeable on how to keep employees engaged and encourage collaboration. An effective manager will also act as a source of support and make employees feel appreciated, whilst driving the team forward.
Establish a work-from-home policy
Working remotely can be difficult for some employees due to a change in routine and not being around other colleagues. Having a work-from-home policy will help employees adjust to this new way of working and feel part of an organisational culture. This could include ensuring they have the right equipment and workspace required to be comfortable in doing their job from home.
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