Building a strong culture with a remote team can be a daunting task, but it’s not impossible. By defining culture and why it’s important, establishing communication protocols, creating rituals and traditions, encouraging team bonding, celebrating successes, managing conflict, and leading by example, you can foster a sense of community and accountability among your remote team members.
Why is workplace culture important?
When building a team, it’s important to define the culture you want to create. Defining culture means articulating the values and behaviors that are important to you and your team. Culture shapes how people think, feel and behave. It sets the tone for how people interact with one another and can influence how they perform their work. We have put together 9 tips to build your workplace culture with a remote team and will be discussing them below.
1. Identify the challenges of building a culture with a remote team
One of the biggest challenges of building a culture with a remote team is that it can be difficult to enforce desired behaviors and values when people are not in the same physical space. Defining culture helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page and understands what’s expected of them. It also provides a framework for dealing with conflict and celebrating successes.
2. Establish communication protocols
Establishing communication protocols helps ensure that everyone is on the same page and that information is shared effectively. It also helps prevent misunderstandings and conflict. When building a remote team, it’s essential to establish communication protocols. This means deciding on the best way to communicate with one another and setting guidelines for how often you should be in touch.
There are several ways to communicate with remote team members, including email, chat, video conferencing, and telephone. You’ll need to find the method that works best for you and your team. Some teams prefer to communicate daily, while others may only need to check in every few days. It’s important to agree on a communication schedule and stick to it.
3. Create rituals and traditions
Creating rituals and traditions is another important way to foster a sense of community and accountability among remote team members. Rituals and traditions provide a sense of continuity and stability and can help team members feel connected to one another. They also provide a framework for celebrating successes and dealing with conflict.
Some ideas for rituals and traditions include:
- Weekly team calls.
- Monthly team lunches.
- Quarterly team retreats.
- Year-end awards ceremony.
- Birthday celebrations.
- Thank you for emails/cards.
4. Encourage team bonding
Encouraging team bonding is essential for building a strong culture with a remote team. When team members are physically isolated from one another, it can be difficult to build strong relationships and feel like part of a community. This is why it’s important to encourage team bonding activities such as socializing over video chat, participating in team challenges, and celebrating successes together.
5. Managing conflict
It is important to define culture, as it can be difficult to enforce desired behaviors and values when people are not in the same physical space. Defining culture helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page and understands what’s expected of them. It also provides a framework for dealing with conflict and celebrating successes.
As with any team, there will likely be conflict from time to time when working remotely. However, when there is a lack of physical contact, it can be easy for disagreements to escalate. That’s why it’s important to have defined protocols for dealing with conflict. These protocols should include steps for identifying and addressing conflicts, as well as guidelines for how to handle heated discussions.
There are several things you can do to manage conflict in a remote team:
Make sure everyone has a clear understanding of the company’s values and expectations.
- Encourage open communication and problem-solving.
- Develop policies and procedures for handling conflict.
- Create forums for discussing disagreements.
- Provide training on effective communication and problem-solving.
- Lead by example.
6. Celebrate successes
It’s important to celebrate successes. Celebrating successes helps to build team morale and can encourage people to continue working hard. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on what’s been accomplished and learn from past mistakes.
There are many ways to celebrate success. You can hold a team-wide meeting to discuss the victory, send out a company-wide email congratulating everyone on a job well done, or post pictures and congratulatory messages on social media. Whatever you do, make sure to recognize everyone who contributed to the success.
7. Foster a sense of accountability
When building a team, it’s important to define the culture you want to create. Defining culture means articulating the values and behaviors that are important to you and your team. Why is culture important? Because it shapes how people think, feel, and behave. It sets the tone for how people interact with one another and can influence how they perform their work.
When building a remote team, it’s especially important to define culture, as it can be difficult to enforce desired behaviors and values when people are not in the same physical space. Defining culture helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page and understands what’s expected of them. It also provides a framework for dealing with conflict and celebrating successes.
One of the challenges of building a culture with a remote team is fostering a sense of accountability. When people are not in the same physical space, it can be difficult to know what everyone is working on or who is responsible for completing a task. Creating a system where team members are held accountable for their actions can help to overcome this challenge.
Some ways to foster a sense of accountability among your remote team members include:
- Setting clear expectations.
- Encouraging transparency.
- Creating rituals.
8. Promote transparency
When building a remote team, it’s especially important to promote transparency. Transparency means sharing information with team members openly and honestly. It fosters trust and builds relationships of mutual respect.
When team members are transparent with one another, they are more likely to be open and honest about their work. This can help to avoid misunderstandings and ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals. It also makes it easier to identify and address any issues that may arise.
9. Lead by example
Leading by example is one of the most important things a leader can do to create a strong culture with a remote team. When team members see their leader modeling the desired values and behaviors, they are more likely to adopt them themselves. A leader who sets the tone for a positive, productive work environment will see that reflected in their team. Conversely, if a leader is negative or destructive, that will be mirrored in the team as well.
One of the advantages of leading a remote team is that you have the opportunity to be more hands-on with your team members. You can monitor their progress and provide feedback more easily than you could if they were in the same physical space as you. It’s important to take advantage of this opportunity and lead by example, setting the tone for a positive, productive work environment.
Wrapping it up
Workplace Culture is key when it comes to building a successful remote team. By taking the time to define what culture means for your business, and implementing some of the strategies we’ve discussed, you can create a community-oriented environment that will encourage productivity and accountability among your team members.
Have you had success in fostering a strong culture with your remote team? Let us know in the comments below!
Eliminate Bias in Your Company, Eliminate Bias in Your Company, Eliminate Bias in Your Company, Eliminate Bias in Your Company, Eliminate Bias in Your Company, Eliminate Bias in Your Company, Eliminate Bias in Your Company, Eliminate Bias in Your Company
