Today, technology has allowed companies to build teams across state lines and even across oceans. In this remote work-enabled business world, many companies are developing more diverse teams that bring unique attributes to the table.
However, managing a remote team is not without its challenges. Establishing positive company culture and a unified team can be difficult from afar, but doing so is crucial to the success of a business. We asked the experts of Forbes Human Resources Council what leaders can do to unite their fully or partially remote teams.
1. Encourage Purposeful Social Connections
The meaningful part of connections at work come from connecting on the other-than-work stuff (pets, hobbies, sports, etc.). Encourage remote counterparts to ask for and share passions and interests with others. Create virtual break rooms where people can share photos and stories on certain topics to enhance the personal connection. Perhaps enlist a moderator to keep the social conversations going. - Catherine Decker, Outsell
2. Prioritize Face-To-Face Time
Find face-to-face time with each other, even if that's via video chat. Think creatively about how you can get to know each other better and still do team building activities. If you happen to have the capability, travel to the areas where your team is from and hold in-person outings and events there. - Lotus Buckner, NCH
3. Gamify The Internal Experience
As the workplace changes to accommodate increasingly remote employees, HR must be inventive to unite the team and promote the culture. A great idea for employee events and/or interaction is create an interactive gaming platform internal website. The site could include applicable employee awards given, company news and employee comments. You can also have an HR-approved virtual employee game day. - Patricia Sharkey, Sharkey HR Advisors
4. Hold Daily Huddles Or Virtual Standups
We've found that daily huddles (15-minute phone calls) in the morning bring everyone together and unite us. We discuss what our top goals are and what we're working on for the day. We also end the day with an afternoon huddle discussing our accomplishments. We do this each day. - Nicole Smartt Serres, Star Staffing
5. Ensure There Are Shared Values Among Team Members
Uniting a team with different values is hard, even if they are in one place. If you have an engaged team with similar values and the same business goals, this becomes easier. Consider what those values are, based on the remote nature of your team. Those who enjoy helping others are likely to create a collaborative culture as they enjoy this working environment. - Karla Reffold, BeecherMadden
6. Engage Your Employees In Decision-Making
Employers have choices of engagement and collaboration tools designed to bring teams together, so keep employees engaged and maintain open communication. Be open about your desire to stay connected and solicit feedback from the employees on what they feel works best. Gaining their buy-in on the tools and processes you leverage will ensure success. - Charles Ashworth, Copper
7. Utilize The Full Hierarchy Of Personal Interactions
Distance in remote working situations feeds the reliance on technology to bridge the team. Just always remember the hierarchy of personal interactions — email, chats, phone calls, video calls and in-person meet-ups. The former ones are more common, the latter ones fewer but more valuable, because nothing beats the immediate synergy of live conversations, expressions, reactions and connections. - Angela Nguyen, Ad Exchange Group
8. Give Everyone A Voice
Unite your teams by paying attention to virtual body language and making sure all voices are heard. In team meetings where both remote and in-office workers are present, make sure remote employees have space to raise questions, share ideas and collaborate. By overseeing virtual communication, you will be better equipped to encourage participation and support remote employees when needed. - Vivian Maza, Ultimate Software
9. Establish Rules Of Engagement And Communications Guidelines
Remote teams need rules of engagement. How do we communicate and how often? Which technology do we use for what? There needs to be an expectation that if one team member needs to have a difficult conversation with a co-worker, they don’t use the “safe” email or text. Instead, they pick up the phone or hop on instant messenger so they can talk through the situation. - Michele Markey, SkillPath
10. Hire For Emotional Intelligence
Hiring the right kind of people who fit in the culture is key . When you evaluate people for emotional intelligence during the hiring process, you ensure that all interactions — whether face-to-face meetings, emails or phone calls — are going to remain professional. - Abhijeet Narvekar, The FerVID Group
11. Be Available
I have worked with remote teams and I have observed the effectiveness of regular communication. The team leader can continue to promote the culture and unite the members by having a facility in which the teams can keep in touch and be updated on what is happening. Be available and approachable. Communicating through video interactions is also better than voice. - Grace Garcia, PDC Operations (Australia) Pty. Ltd - ROHQ
12. Get Everyone On The Team Together In Person At Least Once
As a team leader, establish a budget to host an inclusive global meet-up for knowledge share and team building opportunities. The direct face time gives everyone an opportunity to get to know each other on a personal level. When employees return to their respective location, the next virtual chat will be more engaging, as each employee shared a special group experience together as a team. - Betsy Johnson, Cludo
