Let’s face it, keeping remote teams connected can be tough. Luckily, there are some pretty simple and effective things you can do to build stronger relationships and boost collaboration, especially when working from home. We’ll dive into those strategies right now.
Regular Virtual Coffee Breaks and Social Hours
Imagine the office water cooler talk, but online! That’s the idea behind virtual coffee breaks and social hours. These aren’t about project updates or deadlines. They’re about connecting on a human level. It is vital in remote work. Encourage team members to grab a drink, relax, and chat about anything but work. Talk about hobbies, weekend plans, favorite shows, or anything that sparks a casual conversation. You could even play a quick online game together. The goal is to recreate those informal interactions that naturally occur in a physical office. These casual talks are more important than we think. A study showed that teams who engaged in regular social interactions, even briefly, reported feeling more connected and had better working relationships.
Example: Every Friday afternoon, have a scheduled “Virtual Happy Hour” where team members can join a video call and chat while enjoying a drink or snack. You could even theme it for the seasons too.
Use Video Conferencing for More Than Just Meetings
Email and instant messaging are great, but nothing beats seeing someone’s face. Encourage your team to use video conferencing for more than just structured meetings. Why not use it for quick questions, brainstorms, or even just a quick check-in? Seeing facial expressions and body language makes communication clearer and helps build a stronger sense of connection. Turn those webcams on! A study in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that video conferencing significantly improved communication clarity and reduced feelings of isolation compared to audio-only communication in remote teams. Plus, it just feels more personal and less like a detached transaction.
Important Tip: Let your team know it’s okay if their background isn’t perfect. A little bit of real life in the frame makes things more relatable too.
Implement Team-Building Activities and Games
Who says team building has to be boring or expensive? Plenty of online games and activities can help your remote team bond. Consider virtual escape rooms, online trivia nights, or even a collaborative drawing game. The key is to choose activities that are fun, engaging, and encourage teamwork. These games give your team a chance to work together in a low-pressure environment and discover each other’s strengths and personalities. Research suggests that employees who participate in team-building activities are more likely to report feeling valued and connected to their team, which can lead to higher job satisfaction and productivity.
Ideas for Activities: Virtual Pictionary, online charades, two truths and a lie, or even a collaborative playlist creation where everyone contributes their favorite songs.
Create a Dedicated Communication Channel for Non-Work-Related Topics
While project-related messaging platforms are essential, having a separate channel dedicated to non-work-related topics can make a huge difference. This could be a Slack channel, a Teams group, or even a simple email thread. Encourage team members to share personal updates, funny memes, interesting articles, or anything else that might spark conversation and create a sense of community. This creates a space for informal interactions and helps team members get to know each other outside of their work roles. It’s a space for them outside their regular work from home tasks.
Example: Name the channel “#watercooler” or “#random” and encourage posting anything fun or interesting.
Recognize and Celebrate Team and Individual Achievements
Don’t let remote work lead to a lack of recognition. Publicly acknowledge and celebrate team and individual achievements, no matter how small. This could be a shout-out during a virtual meeting, a mention in a company newsletter, or even a small virtual gift card. Recognizing accomplishments boosts morale, reinforces positive behaviors, and makes team members feel valued and appreciated. Making sure everyone knows they are working well really helps. Studies show that employees who feel recognized for their contributions are more engaged, productive, and loyal to their organization.
Ways to Recognize Achievements: A “Employee of the Month” award, a virtual high-five during a meeting, or a simple “thank you” note delivered via email.
Encourage Cross-Departmental Collaboration
Remote work can sometimes lead to teams becoming siloed. Actively encourage cross-departmental collaboration to break down these barriers and foster a greater sense of connection across the organization. This could involve joint projects, shared training sessions, or even just informal virtual meet-and-greets between different teams. This helps team members learn about different parts of the organization, develop new skills, and build relationships with colleagues outside of their immediate team. It all improves team dynamics, particularly within the work from home environment.
Example: Pair up members from the marketing and sales teams for a mentoring program.
Establish Clear Communication Protocols and Guidelines
Clear communication is crucial for any team, but it’s especially important for remote teams. Establish clear protocols and guidelines for how and when to communicate, including preferred communication methods, response time expectations, and guidelines for using different communication channels. This helps to avoid misunderstandings, reduces frustration, and ensures that everyone is on the same page. This really helps improve efficiency even if you are working from home.
Example: Use email for formal communication, instant messaging for quick questions, and video conferencing for complex discussions or team meetings.
Provide Opportunities for Professional Development and Learning
Investing in the professional development of your team members shows that you value their growth and development. Offer opportunities for online training courses, webinars, conferences, and other learning resources. This not only enhances their skills and knowledge but also demonstrates your commitment to their long-term success. Additionally, learning and skills development provides opportunities for employees to engage and build relations and connections with each other.
Solicit Regular Feedback and Act on It
Make sure to solicit regular feedback from your team on how things are going, what they need to be successful, and how you can improve team communication and collaboration. Act on this feedback to show that you are listening and that you value their input. Be it the work from home environment or any working environment, it’ll improve efficiency and effectiveness and creates a culture of collaboration and employee engagement to improve team bond. Implement changes quickly to benefit all team members.
Encourage Team Members to Share Their Workspaces
A fun way to build camaraderie, especially in a work from home setting, is to encourage team members to share pictures or short videos of their home workspaces. This small gesture can help bridge the physical distance and foster a sense of connection. People can share tips about ergonomic setups, funny pet cameos, or even just the view from their window. It’s a simple way to make remote work feel a little less remote and a little more personal.
Create a Virtual “Open Door” Policy
In a physical office, employees can easily pop into a manager’s office for a quick question or chat. Replicate this accessibility in the remote environment by establishing a virtual “open door” policy. This means making yourself readily available for informal check-ins, questions, and concerns. Use tools like instant messaging or dedicate specific hours for “virtual office hours” where team members know they can reach you without scheduling a formal meeting. Creating this sense of accessibility builds trust, fosters open communication, and prevents small issues from escalating into bigger problems. By doing this, you create a culture of working from home that’s efficient and effective.
Focus on Outcomes, Not Just Hours Worked
Trust is paramount in a remote work setup. Shift your focus from tracking hours to evaluating outcomes. Judge team members based on the quality of their work and their ability to meet deadlines, rather than how many hours they spend at their desks. This empowers employees to manage their time effectively, reduces micromanagement, and fosters a sense of autonomy and responsibility. When team members feel trusted and respected, they are more likely to be engaged, motivated, and committed to their work. This approach applies to those in work from home because it’s still all about productivity and efficiency.
Make Onboarding for New Remote Team Members Extra Special
Starting a new job remotely can be a bit daunting. Make the onboarding experience for new remote team members extra special by providing them with a comprehensive welcome package (virtual or physical), assigning them a buddy or mentor to help them navigate the company culture, and scheduling regular check-ins to answer their questions and address any concerns. A well-structured onboarding process helps new team members feel welcomed, supported, and quickly integrated into the team.
Celebrate Birthdays and Work Anniversaries Virtually
Don’t forget the small things! Celebrating birthdays and work anniversaries virtually shows that you care about your team members and appreciate their contributions. Send a virtual card, organize a virtual party, or even give a small virtual gift. These simple gestures can go a long way in building morale and fostering a sense of belonging.
Embrace Asynchronous Communication
One of the benefits of remote work is the flexibility it offers. Embrace asynchronous communication by using tools like email, project management software, and shared documents to allow team members to work at their own pace and in their own time zones. Avoid unnecessary meetings and encourage team members to document their work and share updates proactively. This approach minimizes disruptions, promotes focused work, and accommodates different work styles and schedules.
Don’t Forget the Importance of Face-to-Face Interactions
While remote work offers many benefits, it’s important to recognize the value of occasional face-to-face interactions. If possible, consider organizing occasional team retreats, offsite meetings, or social gatherings to allow team members to connect in person. These in-person interactions can help to strengthen relationships, build trust, and improve communication.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Let’s address some common questions about strengthening remote team bonds:
What if our team members are in different time zones?
This is a common challenge. Be mindful of scheduling meetings at times that are reasonable for everyone. Embrace asynchronous communication as mentioned above. Record meetings for those who can’t attend live. Be flexible and understanding. Some teams are completely on different schedules and have no overlap!
How do we ensure everyone participates in virtual social events?
Make them optional! Don’t pressure people to attend. Offer different types of activities to cater to different interests. Keep them short and sweet. And, most importantly, make them fun! Lead by example as well! The more management takes part the more others will.
What if team members aren’t comfortable sharing personal information?
Respect their boundaries. It’s okay if some people prefer to keep their personal lives private. Don’t force anyone to share more than they’re comfortable with. Focus on building connections through shared interests and work-related discussions.
How can we maintain team bonds when projects are stressful?
Acknowledge the stress and encourage open communication. Provide support and resources to help team members manage their workloads. Take breaks and find ways to de-stress together, even virtually. Remind everyone to be kind and understanding to each other.
What tools can help us improve communication and collaboration?
There are tons! Consider Slack or Microsoft Teams for instant messaging, Zoom or Google Meet for video conferencing, Asana or Trello for project management, and Google Docs or Microsoft Office 365 for collaborative document editing. Choose tools that fit your team’s needs and encourage everyone to use them consistently.
How do we measure the success of our team-building efforts?
Track employee engagement through surveys or pulse checks. Monitor communication patterns in your team channels. Observe team dynamics during meetings. And, most importantly, ask for feedback! Regularly solicit input from your team on how they’re feeling and what’s working (or not working) to improve team bonds.