Remote work culture has become an increasing norm around the globe. It was already on the rise before the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, however, it has become an unstoppable force that many businesses are taking advantage of.
There are plenty of reasons why. Remote employees can boost productivity, and your business can save money with less overhead and office space.
One tricky part of having a remote team, however, is making sure everyone is on the same page. HR professionals need to facilitate collaboration, especially among those employees who are working from home.
Thankfully, technology has made that easy to do. With a few helpful tips, you can make sure your remote team is working together, bouncing ideas around, and striving to accomplish the same goals to help your business succeed.
Brainstorm and Delegate
One of the best ways to make everyone feel involved is to have a brainstorming session. If you have multiple remote workers, these sessions can be done via Zoom or any other video conferencing platform. There are different brainstorming techniques to consider for every meeting, including:
- Mind mapping
- Brainwriting
- Rapid ideation
- Starbursting
It’s worth it to try all of these techniques at least once to determine which technique best fits the needs of your team and helps you to move forward. Different techniques will appeal to different people. So, don’t be afraid to switch things up from time to time to ensure everyone’s best ideas can come forward.
While a brainstorming session can be a bit of a “free for all,” assigning roles is still important. Once you’ve come up with a plan from your session, don’t be afraid to delegate people into different positions to help you reach your goals. Doing so will give your team a sense of direction. Everyone will know what they need to work on as individuals and as a functioning part of a group.
Hold Smaller Team Meetings
When everyone knows what their individual responsibilities are, they can work independently as much as possible. But, if you want your remote team to collaborate, it’s a good idea to break projects apart into smaller pieces and create “microteams” or smaller groups that can work together.
Again, delegation is important here. Each member of the small group should have a specific role, but those roles need to come together. Think of it like a group project in school, when the final project is greater than the sum of its parts.
By breaking up larger teams into smaller groups, they can hold more frequent meetings without feeling overwhelmed. It’s also easier for smaller groups to share documents, set goals, and send quick messages to each other through platforms like Slack. Virtual collaboration is much less intimidating when it’s done on a smaller level. Eventually, those small groups can come together on a larger monthly or bi-monthly meeting, where everyone checks in and updates others on their progress.
This small group approach can get everyone used to collaborating remotely, and it’s a great way to boost productivity since you have people on a team holding each other accountable.
Create a Culture
Creating a positive and efficient work environment is crucial when you’re working side-by-side. But, it’s just as important when you’re managing a remote team. Yes, you can still create a culture for your remote employees. Helping them to care about that culture and what it represents can help your business with:
- Employee retention
- Attracting top talent
- Innovation
- Diversity
- Teamwork
Your workplace culture – even remotely – should be based on expectations, standards, and goals. Employees should know what is expected of them every day and what your company represents. That allows them to live up to those expectations and be a personal ambassador for your brand. Having policies in place will ensure that everyone is on the same page and knows how the culture operates.
A positive culture will encourage your remote employees to collaborate and communicate more often. They’ll do their jobs faster and more efficiently, which will boost productivity.
Your culture should also showcase that you care about your remote employees just as much as those who work in-house. Setting up employee recognition programs and encouraging feedback are great ways to make sure your remote employees know they are seen and valued.
Remote work is here to stay. It’s likely to keep growing in popularity as technology continues to advance and allow for even greater collaboration. You can encourage your remote team(s) to work together and communicate by using some of the tips here. As a result, your business will enjoy some of the wonderful benefits of utilizing remote workers and ensuring they’re satisfied with their positions.
Noah Rue is a journalist and content writer from Boise, Idaho, US. He is fascinated with the intersection between global health, personal wellness, and modern technology. When he isn’t searching out his next great writing opportunity, Noah likes to shut off his devices and head to the mountains to disconnect.
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