How to Build a Strong Culture With a Remote Team
Opportunities and Benefits of Building a Remote Work Culture
The biggest benefit of a remote-first work culture is that it empowers every employee to do their best work. A true remote culture is intentionally inclusive, removing geographical barriers to create equal opportunities for all. This means employees can bring their unique knowledge, talents, and experiences to the table.
In a remote-first culture, employees tend to be:
Productive and Efficient: They work during the hours that best match their energy, which helps them be more effective.
Happy and Easy to Retain: They feel valued and are rewarded for their contributions, knowing they are important to the company.
Rested and Balanced: They can live the lifestyle they prefer and support their families, which helps them feel more rested.
Connected: They have a sense of belonging and deep trust with coworkers and managers.
A remote-first company also benefits from reduced overhead costs compared to traditional offices. This frees up more resources to empower and reward employees for their positive impact.
10 Ways to Build a Strong Culture With a Remote Team
1. Share Your Company’s Mission and Goals
To build a strong remote culture, ensure that every remote employee understands your company's mission and goals. Find a clear, concise way to convey what the company aims to achieve in both the short and long term. This keeps the remote workforce aligned and working toward common objectives. It also serves as a reminder for each team member about what they are striving to accomplish together.
2. Create an Environment of Trust
Fostering a strong remote team culture relies heavily on trust. Openly share high-level decisions with your team to show that you fully trust them to handle their tasks even while working remotely. When you trust your remote team members, they will reciprocate, leading to a positive remote work culture where employees feel valued and supported.
3. Hire Self-Starters Based on Cultural Fit
A robust remote team culture begins with hiring self-starters who align with your company's values and culture. Look for new team members who:
Believe in your mission and vision and whose personal values match your company culture.
Are resourceful, motivated, and able to work independently.
Such individuals contribute positively to the remote work environment by staying committed, productive, and aligned with your company's values. Prioritize those who can quickly adapt to a remote environment and help you create a great remote-first company culture.
To reach potential candidates worldwide, use your job posting to outline and advertise a global benefits package and a company culture that endorses work-life balance and flexibility. This can include paid time off, sick leave, parental leave, mental health support, allowance for learning and development, home office budget, and more. Remote-first recruitment also gives you the power to build a diverse workforce.
4. Build a Strong Remote Team Culture by Improving Onboarding for New Hires
Building a strong remote work culture begins with onboarding. Since onboarding is the bridge between hiring and long-term success, it's crucial to create a positive experience. When onboarding new remote workers, consider these tips:
Provide Communication and Documentation Guidelines: Reinforce expectations and provide access to essential resources, like company values and protocols.
Create an Onboarding Page: Include links to important content so new hires can easily access what they need.
Encourage Flexible Learning: Let new remote team members explore onboarding material at their own pace.
Assign a Buddy: Pair new employees with a buddy in their time zone to help them feel connected and provide guidance on typical "I'm new here!" questions.
Creating a remote-first onboarding experience helps new employees build trust and connection with the rest of your team while getting acclimated to your remote company culture. GitLab, for instance, offers a tool that supports team bonding and collaboration for global teams, helping remote employees work from home efficiently.
5. Communicate and Collaborate
Effective communication and collaboration are the foundation of a strong remote team culture. Here’s how to build a great communication system:
Use Technology: Utilize team management software for group chats, emails, virtual meetings, and video calls. This ensures that all remote team members can communicate and stay connected.
Encourage Transparency: Create a culture where everyone on the team is comfortable sharing ideas and concerns, building trust among remote team members.
Organize Virtual Team Meetings: These meetings give everyone the opportunity to align goals, share progress, and discuss challenges of remote work.
Create Collaborative Group Chats: Create group chats for sub-teams and the entire organization to keep conversations alive, encourage engagement, and foster knowledge sharing.
By maximizing these communication tools and fostering a culture of trust and collaboration, you can create a strong remote work environment where team members collaborate effectively across different time zones and backgrounds.
6. Implement Virtual Team Building Activities
Building a remote team culture involves finding ways for team members to connect, even while working from different locations. Virtual team building activities can help foster camaraderie and teamwork among remote employees. Here are some ideas:
Online Games: Host interactive online games that encourage teamwork.
Virtual Happy Hours: Organize casual virtual gatherings where team members can relax and chat.
Virtual Team Lunches: Arrange virtual lunch meetings to connect on a more personal level.
Virtual Team Retreats: Plan online retreats that include engaging activities and workshops.
Virtual Challenges and Scavenger Hunts: Set up fun challenges to motivate and energize the team.
Regularly organizing these activities can create a positive culture in a remote environment by helping remote workers bond, boosting productivity, and keeping the team united.
7. Create a Career Development Plan for Your Team
A strong company culture includes providing a clear career development plan that aligns with your company’s goals. Here's how to build one for your remote and hybrid teams:
Provide Training: Offer online classes, workshops, and training sessions for personal growth and leadership skills.
Encourage Mentorship and Rotation: Assign mentors and provide job rotation opportunities to broaden their experience.
Career Development Plans: Include development goals in coaching sessions and performance reviews.
By investing in a culture that supports personal growth and aligns with company values, you'll build a strong remote team motivated to succeed.
8. Invest in Workplace Culture
Building a company culture requires giving your team the right tools and support to excel. Here’s how to invest in a strong remote work environment:
Provide Communication and Collaboration Tools: Equip your team with software to work effectively, creating the best remote work experience.
Create a People and Culture Department: Dedicate a team to focus on culture-building and support remote employees.
Use a Platform Like Remote.com or a PEO: These platforms simplify remote hiring, onboarding, and managing team benefits, providing a streamlined way to support remote and hybrid teams.
These strategies help you build a great company culture where remote employees collaborate smoothly, feel valued, and remain productive. Investing in tools, platforms, and leadership support will foster a strong remote team culture that drives productivity.
9. Continually Promote and Enhance Work-Life Balance and Flexibility
Maintaining a positive remote work culture requires balancing work and personal life. Here are some ways to build a positive environment where remote employees thrive:
Encourage Regular Breaks and Time Off: Help everyone on your team avoid burnout by establishing break schedules and encouraging time off. Respect non-working hours to prevent employees from overworking after office hours. This shows that your company values employee well-being.
Offer Mental Health Support: Provide mental health resources, like counseling services and wellness programs, to assist remote employees in managing stress and maintaining their well-being. Regularly assess the impact of these initiatives using metrics such as employee engagement and productivity.
Promoting work-life balance helps remote employees maintain job satisfaction, fostering a strong culture in a remote environment.
10. Recognizing and Rewarding Remote Team Members
Recognizing and rewarding remote team members is vital for keeping them motivated and engaged. Here’s how to create a positive and supportive culture in a remote environment:
Implement a Recognition Program:
A well-designed recognition program acknowledges remote team members' contributions and aligns with company values. Recognition can be in the form of:
Verbal praise
Awards or bonuses
Other tailored incentives
A formal rewards program ensures that everyone's efforts are noticed, helping build a positive culture in a remote team.
Offer Growth Opportunities:
Growth opportunities are crucial for keeping your team motivated and productive. Examples include:
Regular performance reviews
Promotions and increased responsibilities
Training and development programs
Flexible working hours
Regular assessments help measure their impact on productivity, engagement, and morale. Providing these opportunities keeps your team motivated and demonstrates your commitment to their professional growth.
Provide Regular Feedback and Praise:
Offer constructive feedback and recognize achievements frequently to help remote employees feel valued and supported. This practice builds unity among the team.
Celebrate Milestones and Achievements:
Acknowledge personal and professional milestones, whether through virtual celebrations or public recognition in meetings. This helps create a remote team culture where everyone’s successes are appreciated.
Foster a Positive and Inclusive Team Culture:
Encourage collaboration and inclusivity to build a positive remote team culture where every team member feels included and valued.
By following these steps, you'll build a strong remote team culture that values each member's contributions, motivates them to excel, and promotes overall team success.
In Conclusion:
Building a strong remote team culture is crucial in today's rapidly evolving work environment. Establishing a remote-first mindset involves fostering connection, collaboration, and professional growth while implementing effective communication strategies.
By hiring and onboarding the right candidates, promoting work-life balance, and recognizing and rewarding remote team members, you can create a positive and supportive culture in a remote environment. This results in a thriving remote work culture that benefits both employees and the organization, ensuring a productive and harmonious team.