Even in the pre-COVID-19 era, remote work had already emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments of the job market. With the pandemic forcing an unprecedented number of workers to work from home, companies are now grappling with the challenge of ensuring that remote employees internalise the company’s values and culture.
The arrival of Millennials and Generation Z in the workforce brought the concept of company culture to the forefront. These young professionals sought out employers whose values and objectives matched their own, prompting businesses to recognise the importance of establishing a clear corporate culture and effectively communicating it to potential hires. By doing so, companies were able to attract the best-suited candidates, streamline the recruitment process, lower costs, and boost overall productivity.
Nevertheless, when workers are dispersed across different locations, nurturing a cohesive team dynamic may prove to be a formidable challenge. So, how can this be achieved? Keep reading to find out!
Prepare Yourself
Building a company culture is an organic process that comes naturally to smaller, more flexible organisations. However, introducing new employees and expanding business operations could bring unforeseen changes. This makes it crucial to plan meticulously, establish and effectively communicate the company’s core values and the standards expected of employees.
- Could you share with me the distinctive traits that set your business apart?
- Is it a talent for bringing joy to people or a commitment to providing exceptional customer service?
- Have you been overworking yourself, or have you been striving for a healthy work-life balance?
- Is it imperative to uphold an unwavering level of professionalism at all times, or do practical jokes have a place in the office culture?
This is a favourable moment to thoughtfully contemplate which elements of your company culture are worth preserving. If you haven’t already started, consider compiling a list of these aspects. Doing so will make it easier to communicate this information to any new employees who join the team.
Onboarding
It is quite stunning how frequently the importance of onboarding is overlooked for new hires. Many have experienced showing up for their first day of work only to find that they have no desk, account or tasks assigned to them. To prevent time from being wasted, it is crucial to ensure that new recruits can promptly start their role and begin contributing right away.
To guarantee that employees are thoroughly and safely introduced to their new work environment, onboarding can be conducted remotely through webinars or video conferencing. This approach is ideal for mandatory health and safety briefings as well as informal conversations with colleagues and management. Furthermore, staff members can shadow their colleagues remotely by utilising screen-sharing features provided by various video conferencing systems.
Successfully onboarding new employees mainly hinges on establishing and effectively communicating expectations. It is crucial that you provided them with information about your remote work policy as well as what is expected of them to abide by it when you hired them. If you are starting off with remote workers, it is vital to develop a remote work policy that is tailored to your business needs, reflective of your company culture, and provides details on core hours, expected work quality, health and safety requirements, home working support stipends, and rules of conduct towards colleagues.
Communication
An effective remote work culture thrives on successful communication, which is commonly referred to as the “lifeblood” of remote working. Excessive chatter can have a detrimental effect and convey a lack of trust in your employees’ ability to complete tasks without supervision. On the other hand, if you withhold too much information, you risk alienating your colleagues and possibly leaving them to work without adequate support.
Numerous methods can be employed to enhance communication. At a minimum, we recommend:
- Using a group chat platform such as Slack with separate channels designated for each project.
- Utilising video conferencing and screen sharing software, such as Zoom.
- Employing a project management tool like Basecamp or Trello.
It is essential to keep everyone informed with all pertinent information, therefore we recommend developing a communication strategy that lists the appropriate methods to be employed in different scenarios. Upon finishing a task, marking it as complete on Basecamp eliminates the need for a Zoom meeting to commemorate the accomplishment. Nonetheless, it may be advantageous to recognise the task by means of a phone call.
To build a sense of camaraderie among a dispersed workforce, it is crucial to include non-work related discussions. Scheduling enjoyable events like virtual coffee breaks on a regular basis is an excellent way to facilitate interactions and bonding. Moreover, establishing a #watercooler channel on your communication platform allows people to socialise and chat about topics such as sports scores, memes or the latest video games during the first and last few minutes of video conferences.
Collaboration and Comprehension Between Team Members
Establishing a shared identity for a dispersed team can be more challenging compared to a team working in the same physical location. Individuals residing and working in the same vicinity typically share common interests, such as being fans of a sports team, having children who attend the same schools or frequenting the same hangout spots. It may appear that there are more differences than similarities between team members scattered on different continents. Nonetheless, with effective strategies, it is feasible to create a team identity regardless of physical distance.
Despite the potential obstacles, embracing diversity can yield numerous advantages, such as enhanced innovation and long-term, durable impacts on products and services. A range of viewpoints on a subject can further ensure the final product’s quality. The difficulty lies in how to tackle inherent biases that individuals from varying cultural backgrounds may hold against one another.
The fundamental concept is for team members to engage in meaningful discussions, learning more about each other’s backgrounds and perspectives. To cultivate a stronger connection, we recommend that team members take turns hosting weekly virtual tours of their homes or providing brief introductions to their local area. Additionally, team members can strengthen their bonds by having conversations on personal subjects, such as social matters and family life.
Formulating a mission statement can be an efficient approach for your team to recognise their shared principles. We highly recommend holding a team conversation to determine the methods by which you can accomplish your goals. Rather than emphasising outputs, you should concentrate on the values that the company embodies – “to organise the world’s knowledge and make it widely accessible and valuable.” It is critical for all team members to believe that they can play a part in the company’s success in achieving this objective.
Lastly, teams that are tightly-knit typically remain so. Why not create a team tradition, such as arranging a virtual happy hour every Friday at 5pm or cooperatively covering lunch breaks throughout the week? It is an excellent way to mark the completion of a project too – why not participate in a game of Quake or visit each other’s Animal Crossing islands?
Prioritising the Well-being of Individuals
At Works, we firmly believe that the people you employ hold the greatest influence on your organisation’s culture. Our mission is to identify skilled and amiable remote-ready developers and other technical professionals who will complement your business’s culture. Should you require a remote developer, do not hesitate to contact us right away.
