How do you maintain an inclusive and positive team culture when you\u2019re not working in the same physical space?<\/p>\n
This is a crucial question now more than ever, especially when work environments have fundamentally changed, and most companies have gone 100% remote.<\/p>\n
The sudden onset of COVID-19 has compelled most companies to switch to a remote work model and operate virtually. While this has allowed the companies to hire talents from diverse backgrounds and geographic locations, the challenge is to optimize diversity and build a culture of inclusion among all.<\/p>\n
So, how do you foster inclusion and promote collaboration to build strong relations within remote teams? Here\u2019s a quick lowdown of the same:<\/p>\n
| Use Digital Tools<\/span><\/p>\n Connect remote teams with a flurry of technologies like Teamwork, ProofHub, Basecamp, Trello, JIRA, Skype, G Suite, etc., that optimize workflows and eliminate inefficiencies.<\/td>\n | Assign Tasks Effectively<\/span><\/p>\n Set clear guidelines while assigning tasks, so that remote teams know how to prioritize projects, groom backlogs, and plan upcoming sprints to keep uncertainties at bay.<\/td>\n | Interact in Real-time<\/span><\/p>\n Help employees and their managers engage in real-time interactions (ranging from informal check-ins to formal meetings) that spark instantaneous conversations and collaboration.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Improve Transparency<\/span><\/p>\n | Integrate transparency into your company values through proactive communication that can break down information silos, build loyalty, and nurture trust.<\/td>\n Break the Ice<\/span><\/p>\n | Implement virtual icebreaker activities during kickoff remote meetings to strengthen the bond between remote workers who may otherwise feel isolated.<\/td>\n Set up Standups<\/span><\/p>\n | Schedule a daily standup for not more than 15 minutes each day to understand the project\u2019s pulse and help remote teams focus on the tasks at hand in the next 24 hours.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Dedicate Discussion Channels<\/span><\/p>\n | Use dedicated channels for teams, sprints, topics, etc., to better manage online communications and avoid information overload for people who don\u2019t need it.<\/td>\n Track Teams\u2019 Progress<\/span><\/p>\n | Use the right software and concrete work structures to gain visibility into teams\u2019 progress\/updated reports instead of micromanaging every member.<\/td>\n Switch to Video Calls<\/span><\/p>\n | Choose video conferences over text-only communications occasionally because they add a whole new element to collaboration, helping people feel more connected.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n Define Problems with Quick Solutions<\/span><\/p>\n | Deliver quick solutions to problems to clarify project goals and ensure that there are no bottlenecks that may otherwise eat into the project delivery.<\/td>\n Keep Teams in the Loop<\/span><\/p>\n | Inform remote teams about various company-wide events, milestones, holidays, and other updates to help every member stay in the know from time to time.<\/td>\n Use Different Time Zones to Advantage<\/span><\/p>\n | Collaborate with geographically distributed teams working in different time zones from around the world to deliver 24*7 service and customer support.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n The above strategies can help you build more connected remote teams, especially when the pandemic has disrupted the traditional work structure and redefined the next-normal operating model.<\/p>\n The key is to lean into the right technologies to help remote teams adjust to the new realities of work that\u2019s likely to last as highlighted by the following reports:<\/p>\n Remote Work Statistics<\/h4>\n
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