As more work teams move to a remote setting, it can be difficult at times to promote camaraderie between associates. Here are a few ways you can build teamwork, even when most of your employees are working from home:
Create some friendly competition
Self-expression is one way to get employees to talk to one another. Based on the time of year, try to set up some sort of contest that results in associates winning prizes. You do not have to go all out when setting up something like a photo contest, as the employees can decide how much creativity they put into their pet photo, holiday design, etc. Be sure the prize is worth their efforts, or you will likely have little to no participation. If possible, offer vacation days or gift cards. If you are not sure what your employees would like to win, simply ask them via an anonymous survey. They will be quick to let you know what they want instead of you assuming incorrectly.
Don’t cut the chit-chat
While it may not seem productive from the outset, allowing coworkers to mingle and chat about their lives is a great way to build relationships. In the office, it is easier to simply stop by another person’s desk or cubicle to discuss upcoming plans or the latest sports scores. When setting up virtual meetings, try to set aside some time for this kind of discussion. You can start the call with a check-in on everyone in their virtual setting or, to lighten the mood, begin the meeting with a fun 15-minute ice-breaker activity. Just be sure you have a firm cutoff time and transition phrase in mind to get the meeting back on track.
Turn all cameras on
It can be tempting to keep your computer’s camera off during virtual meetings. Whether an associate wants to limit distractions due to their work environment or wants to continue working on a project while listening, it is best to try and have all cameras on. Doing so will help keep everyone engaged and focused on the meeting at hand. Additionally, seeing everyone’s faces can help to avoid miscommunication through understood body language. Be considerate, though, when it comes to employees who need to have their cameras off — even if it is just for a few minutes during the meeting. They may be briefly dealing with an unexpected personal matter.
Use a group chat
Applications like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Mattermost are all great platforms for work-based conversations. However, you may want to set up a separate channel or chat for a more relaxed discussion to help build camaraderie. Encourage your team to share funny quips, silly photos, or even random thoughts. Just be sure to set boundaries and expectations for the group chat, ensuring all members keep it professional. One of the top benefits of creating channels like this is that members can choose when they get notifications, so they can temporarily turn them off to focus on a project and avoid distractions.
These are only a handful of ways to help build teamwork in the digital world. As much as possible, try to tailor these strategies to best fit each individual, to make all your remote employees feel valued and welcome.