Foster Community In Remote Teams
Remote work is growing into one of the biggest trends within modern organizations, especially in today’s world. More organizations are switching to telecommuting offices, as employees who work remotely have shown to be more productive, efficient, and less stressed. In order for such practices to be sustainable in the long term, it is important to foster an effective remote culture and guide your team to work together efficiently.
Although remote work has been beneficial for many teams, they have lost the sense of community that is often fostered in an office environment. When working remotely, it becomes difficult to connect with teammates on a personal level. A lack of physical presence makes it harder to feel a sense of belonging to something larger.
We have outlined ways that will help you grow a sense of community with your teammates.
1. Creative Conversation Topics
The best way to learn about your teammates is by having a weekly set of thought-provoking questions to ask one another. Learning small tidbits of information like this fosters relationships that build a strong community – rather than just a group of strangers working for the same company.
2. Chatting Channel Or Chit-Chat Channel
Remote teams lack the opportunity to make small talk as often, as there is no place for such conversation to occur naturally. Personal conversations are however vital to forming professional relationships that lead to building trust and community amongst teammates. Having a chat platform where the teams can converse casually throughout the workday is a great stepping stone to build trust with one another – through valuable and intimate conversations.
3. Co-working Spaces
Sometimes people just need to be around other people to feel an overall sense of community and connection; which trickles into other aspects of their personal and professional lives. For employees who enjoy working around others, consider offering a co-working space and reimbursements to encourage team members to network with other professionals, in a safe environment.
