As remote work becomes more prevalent, keeping team unity intact can be tricky. Business leaders and managers, what’s an effective method you’ve used to keep your remote teams united and motivated? Share actionable steps others can use, including helpful tools or practices.
1. **Establish Consistent Forums**
Keeping your team connected and driven is crucial for a healthy company culture, especially remotely. One of the strategies we use is setting up regular forums for sharing information across different departments. We have regular cross-functional standups, open Slack channels, all-hands “show-and-tells,” and monthly in-person meetups. By focusing on open communication, we’ve cultivated a connected and motivated remote team that feels engaged and invested in our company’s success.
2. **Have a Cohesive Set of Tools**
Ensure you have a consistent set of tools to facilitate cohesive work, especially internationally. Key practices include mini management structures, a single source for data, time tracking, and a unified sense of purpose. To expand globally, hiring and firing quickly is necessary. These strategies have helped us grow to 30+ employees across six countries and ten time zones, overcoming numerous challenges along the way.
3. **Asynchronous Communication**
For enhancing our remote team’s unity and motivation, we’ve embraced asynchronous communication. We set clear guidelines on how and when to communicate, ensuring everyone understands what’s expected. We use project management tools like Asana for tracking projects, Microsoft Teams for specific topic channels, and Loom for video updates, adding a personal touch. Google Docs helps us keep all project documents organized and accessible. This shift hasn’t just improved productivity; it’s also made our team happier and less stressed.
4. **Embrace Virtual Team-Building Activities**
In the realm of remote work, keeping teams cohesive and motivated is crucial. Virtual team-building activities are a lifesaver. Regular virtual meetings on Zoom or Google Meet provide spaces for both work discussions and fun activities like virtual ice breakers and games, creating a relaxed and engaging atmosphere. A virtual ‘water cooler’ space for informal chats, peer recognition, online professional development, and regular check-ins are vital. This blend of virtual and physical interactions keeps the team connected and energized.
5. **Create a Culture of Trust and Collaboration**
Show teams what’s expected and provide clear guidance daily. Being entirely remote, we built a culture of trust and collaboration from the start. Multiple communication channels, both formal and informal, along with weekly and monthly video meetings (with cameras on) and annual in-person gatherings, create a proud workspace. We offer flexibility in working hours, leave, personal time, and workload. This approach fosters loyalty and motivation, demonstrating our commitment to a happy work/life balance, essential for a sustainable business.
6. **Virtual Office Hours**
Implementing “virtual office hours” has significantly improved our team cohesion. Leaders set aside dedicated hours weekly for casual drop-ins via Zoom or Slack, enabling real-time collaboration. To adopt this, schedule regular slots, encourage team participation, and ensure a welcoming environment for discussions. It’s a simple yet effective way to maintain connection and motivation in remote teams.
7. **Weekly Virtual Announcements**
Our hybrid-remote team benefits from weekly virtual announcements and frequent shout-outs. Repeating announcements on the same day with policy reminders and new updates, asking for acknowledgment when read, helps avoid policy drift. Sharing and frequently referencing the employee manual, and announcing awards for small successes throughout the week, keeps our team aligned and motivated.
8. **Set Clear Goals**
Setting clear goals, roles, and responsibilities is a strategy we’ve found effective. This clarity helps everyone understand their contribution, reducing confusion and boosting accountability. We promote cross-team exposure so members see how their work fits into the larger picture, fostering a sense of purpose. Understanding individual motivations allows managers to tailor their approach, enhancing motivation and productivity. Regular check-ins and feedback sessions provide recognition and address concerns, further motivating the team.
9. **Embrace Remote Work Fully**
We adopted remote work in 2009 for its alignment with our online work model and emphasis on output and creativity over strict hours. Our company has thrived with motivated remote teams who appreciate the freedom to work on their own time. We rely on Slack for daily chats, Google Meet for weekly and monthly calls, and extensively use Google Docs and Sheets. Encouraging friendly interactions and using tools like Asana for project management and One Password for security helps maintain our cohesiveness. Our team has grown significantly while maintaining motivation and unity, demonstrating that embracing remote work fully can lead to long-term success.
