Current search data shows a significant 300% increase in searches for remote working jobs in the UK. Whilst some companies have honed in on creating a great remote working culture, other companies are enforcing new policies with mandatory days back in the office, and others are back to full-time pre-pandemic office first protocol.
Of course, remote working comes with its challenges, one of them being communication. So how do you create a successful company culture in a remote working environment? Take a look below for tips from Instant Offices.
5 Tips for Successful Communication with Remote Teams
For many workers, increased connectivity in their personal and professional lives has made the transition to remote working a relatively easy one. Faster and more reliable Wi-Fi, access to cloud systems, and team collaboration tools mean ‘the office’ can be just about anywhere. By streamlining your work processes in this way, your team can be more professional, productive, and efficient in the long run.
Clear & Consistent Communication
Setting communication expectations from the start is important so that your team knows the guidelines to follow. It’s important for team members to feel as though they have enough one on one time with you as a manager to set up regular catch ups with agendas so people can plan accordingly.
Use reliable communication tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom for different types of communication needs (chat, video calls, project management). When working with a remote team, email alone just isn’t enough and a instant messaging service provides a more personal and approachable feel to the team.
Creating a Remote First Feedback System
Conducting surveys to gather feedback on communication practices and identify areas for improvement can be a great way to keep your team happy. Depending on the size of the company, your team may not always to have someone to vent to other than you, and not everyone is confident in giving direct feedback. Using an anonymous survey can allow you to get thoughtful and honest feedback to make changes.
Training & Resources
Just because your team are remote doesn’t mean that they won’t be keen to learn, develop and grow their skill sets. Setting aside allocated learning time for your team can be a great way to show them that you’re invested in them as people, as well as creating a more skilled and experienced team.
Whether you provide resources for them to use alone, create a monthly lunch and learn or even send the team to a conference for some team bonding, it’s important for a remote team to feel valued and appreciated.
Encouraging Collaboration
It’s not just the communication between manager and team member that needs work in a remote setting, intercommunication within team members is also vital.
Use collaborative platforms such as Miro or MURAL for brainstorming and collaborative work. And great subteams or parings to group people together for projects.
It can also be healthy to create a session per week or every other week for a coffee break together where work doesn’t need to be discussed, but people can just chat about the sorts of things they would in the office such as TV, books or upcoming plans.
Be Respectful of People’s Personal Situations
People work remotely for a reason, be it childcare, living in another country or simply because it suits their personality and ways of working. It’s important as a manager to respect these differences. Be mindful of team members’ time zones when scheduling meetings and expecting responses and create trust by allowing people to continue their daily lives whilst working. Once again, strong communication is needed by all parties for this style of remote working to be successfu.
How To Grow Company Culture
Generally, co-located teams have an easier time building a company culture than remote teams. That said, here are some things business owners can do to create a positive company culture with a remote team:
Choose tools that match your culture: Because all communication and collaboration will be done using online tools, it is essential to choose apps and software that match the culture you are trying to create. If you want to create a fun, laid-back environment, choose tools that match this atmosphere. You also want to make it as easy as possible for your remote team to stay up-to-date. Be it via video conferencing tools, chat apps, or the comments section of your project management tool, you need to offer various ways to keep in touch.
Team building: Team building does wonders to foster communication, especially among remote workers who do not see each other daily. Where possible, create an ‘office social life’ by planning regular meetups, lunches, and team-building activities to boost team morale.
Recognition: Public recognition for a job well done is one of the most effective and natural ways to motivate a remote team. Shoutouts in a team chat, during meetings or any other way, will not only boost morale and motivation but set a standard for other team members to strive for.
This article was provided by Instant Offices