Category: remote work

By Jared Whittle

Let’s face it, company culture was swept aside by the wave of remote work that has now established itself as the new norm. It’s all too easy for coworkers to become little more than three-inch figures that exist only in a Zoom window, appearing for a mere handful of hours each week. The question is: why does this matter?

Company culture is the set of values, beliefs, and behaviors that define how a company operates and interacts with its stakeholders. It influences everything from employee engagement and retention to customer satisfaction and loyalty. A strong company culture can give your small business a competitive edge and help you achieve your goals.

But how do you create and maintain a company culture when your team is working remotely? Remote work has many benefits, such as increased flexibility,
productivity, and cost savings, but it also poses some challenges for fostering a cohesive and positive culture. Here are some strategies to help you overcome these challenges and build a strong company culture for your small business in a remote work environment.

Building company culture in a remote work environment

1. Communicate your vision and values clearly and consistently

Your vision and values are the foundation of your company culture. They express why you do what you do and how you do it. They guide your decisions and actions and shape your expectations and standards. To create a strong company culture, you need to communicate your vision and values clearly and consistently to your remote team. You can do this by:

Creating a mission statement that summarizes your purpose, goals, and values. This is a crucial step in communicating your vision and values to your remote team. Your mission statement should be clear and concise, and it should capture the essence of what your business stands for. Make sure to involve your team in the process of creating the mission statement so that they feel ownership and buy-in. Once the mission statement is established, it should be shared with all team members, and should be prominently displayed on your website and in your office (if applicable).

Sharing your vision and values during onboarding, training, and performance reviews. During the onboarding process, new hires should be introduced to your vision and values and how they align with their roles and responsibilities. This can be achieved through presentations, videos, or one-on-one meetings. Training sessions should also include discussions around how the work being done supports the company’s vision and values. During performance reviews, you should evaluate how well employees are embodying the values of the company, and how they have contributed to fulfilling the company’s mission.

Reinforcing your vision and values through regular updates, newsletters, podcasts, or videos. You can send out regular emails or newsletters highlighting the accomplishments of your team members who have demonstrated your company’s values. You can also create podcasts or videos that share stories of how your team members are living the values of the company. This type of content can be shared on social media, on your website, or in your internal communication channels. All too often, company culture is established with vigor, only to fizzle out months later. This is a great way to keep your team engaged and informed about your company culture.

Recognizing and rewarding employees who demonstrate your vision and values in their work. Employees who embody the values of the company should be publicly recognized and rewarded for their contributions. You can do this through bonuses, promotions, or public shout-outs in your company newsletter or on your company’s social media channels. Recognizing and rewarding employees for living the company’s values will encourage others to follow their lead, and will help to reinforce the culture you are trying to build.

2. Foster collaboration and connection among your remote team

One of the biggest challenges of remote work is the lack of face-to-face interaction and socialization. This can lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and disconnection among your remote employees. To prevent this, you need to foster collaboration and connection among your remote team. Do this by:

Using online tools and platforms that facilitate communication, collaboration, and feedback. One of the biggest challenges of a remote work environment is that team members may feel isolated and disconnected. Using online tools and platforms can help overcome this by creating a virtual space where employees can communicate, collaborate, and give feedback. These tools can range from instant messaging apps to project management software to video conferencing platforms. It is important to choose the tools that fit your team’s needs and preferences and provide training and support to ensure they are used effectively.

Encouraging informal chats and check-ins among team members. Remote work can be lonely, so it is important to encourage informal chats and check-ins among team members. This can be done through instant messaging, video conferencing, or simply scheduling regular one-on-one catch-up calls. These informal conversations can help build trust, rapport, and a sense of community among team members.

Organizing virtual team-building activities, such as games, quizzes, or happy hours. Virtual team-building activities can help create a sense of camaraderie and fun among remote workers. These activities can include games, quizzes, or happy hours conducted over video conferencing or messaging apps. They can be a great way to break the ice, relieve stress, and foster collaboration and creativity among team members.

Creating online communities or groups based on common interests or hobbies. Online communities or groups based on common interests or hobbies can help remote workers connect on a personal level. These communities can be created on social media platforms or internal company platforms and can be centered around topics such as cooking, fitness, music, or books. Encouraging participation in these groups can help remote workers feel more connected to their colleagues and the company culture.

Providing opportunities for in-person meetups or retreats when possible. While remote work is often done from home or other remote locations, it is important to provide opportunities for in-person meetups or retreats when possible. These can include annual or semi-annual company retreats, team offsites, or even casual meetups organized by employees themselves. In-person meetings can help strengthen relationships, build trust, and reinforce the company culture.

3. Promote trust and autonomy among your remote team

Trust and autonomy are essential for remote work. They allow your remote employees to work independently and creatively without constant supervision or micromanagement. They also boost motivation, confidence, and accountability. To promote trust and autonomy among your remote team, you need to:

Set clear goals and expectations for each project or task. Setting clear goals and expectations is crucial for remote team members to understand what they need to accomplish and how to do it. You can do this by creating detailed project plans; breaking down tasks into smaller, manageable steps; and setting deadlines and milestones. This helps your team members stay on track and focused on their priorities.

Provide regular feedback and recognition for their work. Remote team members may feel isolated or disconnected from the team, which can lead to lower morale and productivity. Providing regular feedback and recognition for their work can help them feel valued and appreciated. You can do this by scheduling regular one-on-one meetings, sending emails or messages of appreciation, and publicly recognizing their achievements.

Empower them to make decisions and solve problems on their own. Remote team members need to feel empowered to make decisions and solve problems on their own. You can do this by giving them the autonomy to make decisions within their scope of work, providing them with the necessary resources and support, and encouraging them to take ownership of their projects.

Respect their work-life balance and personal preferences. Remote team members often struggle with work-life balance and may have different work schedules or preferences. As a leader, it’s essential to respect their personal boundaries and preferences. You can do this by setting realistic expectations, avoiding micromanagement, and encouraging them to take breaks and prioritize their well-being.

Avoid unnecessary meetings or interruptions. Remote work can be distracting, and unnecessary meetings or interruptions can disrupt your team’s workflow and productivity. You can avoid this by using asynchronous communication tools, setting clear communication protocols, and scheduling meetings only when necessary. This helps your team members stay focused and productive throughout the day.

4. Cultivate a learning and growth mindset among your remote team

A learning and growth mindset is one that embraces challenges, seeks feedback, learns from mistakes, and strives for improvement. It is crucial for remote work because it helps your remote employees adapt to changing situations, overcome obstacles, and develop new skills. To cultivate a learning and growth mindset among your remote team, you need to:

Provide access to online resources. To foster a culture of continuous learning and development, it’s important to provide your remote team with access to online courses, webinars, podcasts, or books that can help them learn new things or improve their existing skills. This shows that you value their professional growth and want to invest in their long-term success. You can also encourage them to share what they’ve learned with their colleagues, which can help spread knowledge and create a sense of community.

Encourage knowledge sharing. Your remote team members likely have a diverse range of skills and experiences, so it’s important to encourage them to share their knowledge, insights, or best practices with their colleagues. This can be done through regular team meetings, online forums, or informal chats. By sharing their expertise, they can help others learn and grow, and also feel valued and appreciated for their contributions.

Foster a culture of feedback. Constructive feedback is essential for personal and professional growth, but it can be difficult to give and receive in a remote work environment. To create a culture of feedback, it’s important to establish clear guidelines and expectations for how feedback should be given and received. This can include using specific language, focusing on behaviors rather than personalities, and avoiding defensiveness. By creating a safe and supportive environment for feedback, you can help your remote team members improve their skills and build stronger relationships.

Celebrate successes AND failures. It’s important to celebrate your remote team’s successes, but it’s equally important to view failures as learning opportunities. By embracing a growth mindset, you can create a culture where mistakes are viewed as opportunities for growth and improvement. This can be done through regular team retrospectives, where you reflect on what worked well and what could be improved. By acknowledging both successes and failures, you can create a more resilient and adaptable team culture.

Put these principles to work, and who knows? You might just find that your company is a friendlier, more productive place.

FAQs on building a good remote work culture

What makes a good remote work culture?

A good remote work culture is built upon strong communication, trust, and collaboration among remote employees. It prioritizes work-life balance, provides clear expectations, promotes employee well-being, and encourages a sense of belonging and community.

What is remote company culture?

Remote company culture refers to the values, norms, and behaviors that define the work environment and interactions within a remote organization. It encompasses how employees connect, communicate, and collaborate while working remotely.

How do you maintain company culture with remote workers?

To maintain company culture with remote workers, it is important to regularly communicate and reinforce the company’s values and goals. This can be done through virtual team-building activities, regular video meetings, transparent communication channels, recognition of achievements, and promotion of a supportive and inclusive work environment.

About the Author

Post by: Jared Whittle

Jared Whittle serves as the director of operations at Apprentice and the chief revenue officer of Sloungy. His writing spans operations, finance, entrepreneurship, and networking.

Company: Apprentice

Website:
www.chooseapprentice.com

Connect with me on
LinkedIn and Instagram.