Over the last two years, many companies transitioned to remote and hybrid work modes during the global COVID pandemic. For large tech companies seasoned in driving high-performance remote teams, this conversion has been another day at the office. Other organizations whose employees once thrived on in-person communication and interactions are now experiencing some negative impacts of remote work arrangements.
One of the significant concerns leaders have faced during this shift is maintaining a healthy and unified work culture where trust, accountability, and ownership are still the foundation and fabric. Many want to know how to keep their employees engaged with one another and the work, and it’s not impossible! However, it does require intention, strategy, and commitment from leaders and employees.
Whether in-person or remote, it’s important to remember that authentic workplace relationships don’t happen overnight. They are cultivated through genuine experiences that take place over time. Below are three powerful ways to strengthen employees’ unity, trust, and productivity in any remote workforce.
- Host routine video calls. Encourage real-time team transparency and interaction just as you would in a traditional office setting. Videos are a great way to do that. Relax if you hear a baby crying or a dog barking in the background for a few moments. It’s not the end of the world. Be empathetic, kind, and patient with one another. After all, you’re in this together, right?
- Create shared habits. Employees are people, not robots, and remote work experiences must be humanized to the best of a leader’s ability. Get your team’s ideas and feedback on this! Ways to facilitate shared rituals include virtual coffee hours, weekly discussions on the most exciting projects, orchestrating a virtual watercooler, etc.
- Implement collaborative software. “Companies that utilize team collaboration applications report significantly increased group and personal productivity, have a faster time to market, and execute projects [quicker],” suggests Wayne Kurtzman, research director at the International Data Corporation (IDC).