Strategies for Maintaining Contact with Your Distant Workforce: Guidelines for Cultivating a Virtual Relationship
Remote work has become the new norm, replacing traditional office work for many employees. However, this shift brings its own set of challenges, such as unplugging after work, loneliness, and communication issues, according to Buffer. This article explores key strategies to build and maintain virtual relationships with remote employees, boost productivity, and reduce loneliness.
Virtual Social Activities
Virtual coffee chats, happy hours, book clubs, movie nights, and fun games help simulate casual, non-work interactions, allowing employees to connect personally beyond tasks. Examples include "coffee roulette," which pairs team members randomly for informal 15-30 minute video calls, mimicking spontaneous office conversations.
Regular Video Meetings
Regular video meetings encourage social connection and offer a sense of belonging. These should be well-balanced to avoid meeting fatigue, with some meetings optional or alternating communication methods.
Fostering Trust and Transparency
Active listening to employee feedback and creating spaces for open communication strengthens relationships and combats disconnection inherent to remote work.
Utilizing Collaboration Tools
Collaboration tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams for ongoing chat allow casual conversations similar to in-office interactions, supporting continuous engagement throughout the day.
Encouraging Informal Co-working Sessions
Holistic socialization can be achieved through shared interests channels, such as pet cams or TV show channels, which can spark spontaneous, creative conversations benefiting teamwork and morale.
These approaches combine structured group activities with casual, one-on-one interactions, supporting emotional well-being and productivity in remote teams.
Trust, Recognition, and Clear Expectations
Trusting your team to do their work can lead to increased productivity and a sense of autonomy among employees. Encouraging recognition through dedicated programs or simple appreciation can make employees feel valued and motivated. Upwork suggests setting clear expectations and goals to give your team the freedom to work how they want while still ensuring that the work is getting done.
Adapting Your Leadership Style
Adapting your leadership style is important when managing remote teams, as situational leadership can help you adjust your approach to different personalities, working styles, and needs.
Using the Right Tools
Using the right tools like Asana, Slack, Zoom, Google Drive, and Dropbox can help maintain a good working relationship, stay organized, communicate effectively, and collaborate on projects.
Addressing Office Politics and Promotions
Harvard Business Review states that remote workers often feel left out of office politics and are more likely to be passed over for promotions. Being intentional about inclusion and offering equal opportunities can help address this issue.
Flexibility and Understanding
Being flexible and understanding can help employees manage their work/life balance and lead to increased productivity in the long run. Over-communication is crucial when managing remote teams.
Employee Wellness Programs
Mondelēz International has an employee wellness program called BOOST for encouraging employee healthy living efforts.
Connecting Team Members
Connecting team members who don't usually work together can help combat feelings of isolation among remote workers. Virtual team-building activities can promote bonding and team morale among remote workers.
Maintaining a Good Working Relationship
Regular check-ins with remote employees are essential for maintaining a good working relationship and showing support. Creating a dedicated channel on a company's messaging platform for informal conversations can help foster a sense of community among remote employees.
By implementing these strategies, employers can effectively build and maintain virtual relationships with remote employees, fostering trust, transparency, and productivity, while reducing loneliness and promoting emotional well-being.
Project management tools like Asana and Slack, designed for ongoing chat and collaboration, can simulate in-office interactions, encouraging a sense of community among remote employees. Smart-home-devices and gadgets, such as pet cams or shared-interest channels, can prompt spontaneous discussions, promoting teamwork and morale. Incorporating technology into the home-and-garden lifestyle, like virtual team-building activities, can help combat feelings of isolation and foster bonds among remote workers. By embracing these strategies, employers can effectively build and maintain virtual relationships, boost productivity, and improve the overall well-being of remote teams.
