Team members are still team members, even if the main office is thousands of miles away from them. But it takes more than a virtual open-door policy to ensure you get the most from your team while making them feel appreciated and part of something bigger.
Communication Strategies
As in-person communications are inherently limited between remote and stateside team members, tools like Slack, Zoom, and Teams are the bread and butter for company-wide interactions and conversations. However, if group channels in the company’s communication platforms aren’t the right setting, provide a way for team members to submit their ideas, comments, and concerns. Anonymous surveys are a great tool for gathering honest feedback without fear of judgment.
Regular check-ins are a must when combining the efforts of local and remote teams, which may mean scheduling one-on-ones and collective team check-ins. New research shows that information is better digested when presented as focused bursts instead of broad-ranging conversations that touch a little bit on everything. Try to keep meetings short, focused, and intentional — you and your teams may save quite a bit of time and stumble over fewer miscommunications caused by trying to fix everything at once.
Recognition and Awards
With all the work that goes into developing, implementing, updating, and improving products, the ball may get passed around quite a bit from team to team. Take note of key moments, achievements, and specific milestones during the process, and give credit where credit is due. Lauding your remote teams isn’t as simple as picking up a cake from the store on the way to the office, but you can just as easily send a message of gratitude and praise as a congratulatory gift card for a job well done.
Keep bonuses and rewards as broad as possible unless you really know the people being rewarded. Everybody knows how to spend prepaid debit cards and gift cards to popular chains, so it’s a safer bet than a card or certificate to a lesser-known or outdated retailer. Ask the managers of your satellite locations for the places team members are likely to frequent.
Professional Development Opportunities
As an employer, it’s your responsibility to nurture continuous learning and career growth with your teams. Providing access to webinars, workshops, and online courses can advance a team member’s career path while showing them how genuinely you care about their development. As teams grow their skill sets, the company has a chance to amplify its presence and try new techniques or methodologies. People want to get better at their jobs and be recognized for their achievements, so give them the space to learn and tell them when their performance is commendable.
The importance of mentorship programs cannot be overstated, as they are continually shown to be incredibly effective at advancing professional skill sets, strengthening team cohesion, and improving team member retention. Mentors and mentees alike can benefit from these programs, as it is a give-and-take relationship of professional enhancement.
Work-Life Balance
Utilization of the remote/hybrid work model has skyrocketed since the start of the pandemic. With this massive shift in how an increasing percentage of our global workforce operates, there must also come an understanding that people still know how to get things done when they are not in a physical office. Let your team know they should take breaks during the day and regularly schedule time off from work.
A drawback to having an office set up in one’s home is that the line may blur between work life and home life, a common situation that can be addressed by setting boundaries. Taking a walk, leaving the house for a meal, or reading a book may all help team members “shift gears” from work, but there are many self-care practices to recommend to your team. If you have personal experience with any, be sure to share those.
Health and Wellness Programs
Since the pandemic changed the landscape of virtual offices, mental health has become more important than ever. Promoting a work-life balance is one thing, but it’s a much larger task to destigmatize seeking help or treatment. Making your teams aware of the available resources for mental health is sometimes all it takes, whether it’s stress management classes or counseling services.
Team Cohesion
Clear Goals and Expectations
Set clear, achievable goals for both teams and individuals. It’s your responsibility to outline the parameters of team member roles and understand their expected contributions. Using objectives and key results (OKRs) framework can help keep expectations concise and inspirational to the team, as long as they are easily understood. Provide direction to your teams if and when the roadmap shifts because everyone needs to know where the ship is heading.
The Big Picture
The concept of remote work has dramatically changed how we interact over the past several years, but opportunities exist for employers to foster well-being in their remote team members. Between keeping open communication channels, setting clear expectations, and praising for work well done, engaging with your remote teams should be just as simple as with your local teams.
