5 Ways Businesses are Connecting Remote Employees

Building meaningful relationships with coworkers is much more challenging when you don't share the same physical space, despite the advantages of not having to commute, having more flexibility for family and personal time, and the convenience of doing laundry during the day that many remote workers tout. Leaders from all sectors are experimenting with digital alternatives to encourage culture-building and collaboration, from coffee breaks to happy hours. Some virtual trials have been successful, while others just fall short of face-to-face contact.

1.Promoting casual interactions

Informal encounters foster teamwork and the development of trust amongst coworkers: When employees are present, they frequently cross paths and naturally and spontaneously exchange ideas and problems. It may seem paradoxical to include unstructured time in meeting agendas in a virtual office setting, but doing so is crucial.

One strategy for exchanging ideas is to allocate the final 10 minutes of a meeting for participants to discuss anything that's on their minds in whole-group or break-out sessions. Teams can be kept from operating in silos by setting up office hours or implementing an open-door policy where executives ask their reports to participate in video conversations on a regular basis.

2.Transparency in leadership

When they feel that decision-making is transparent and the leadership is to be trusted, employees are generally happier and stay with a company longer. People are better able to comprehend how their work affects the company and even the general public when they can see how all the moving parts operate together. Leadership transparency can be significantly increased by regularly updating personnel on any new company-wide initiatives as well as updates from each department.

3.Collaboration between teams

Cross-team projects force people out of their comfort zones and disrupt their regular working routines. Collaborators must become familiar with the communication and working styles of each member while working with a new group. When people with various backgrounds or areas of expertise brainstorm together, new ideas frequently emerge.

To keep everyone on schedule and within budget, successful cross-team collaborations require clearly defined group goals and milestones. Each team member needs to have personal KPIs in addition to team goals because remote work can encourage social loafing.

4.Online gaming nights

Even if playing Zoom trivia with friends after work might be invigorating, forced after-work socialization is not a benefit because many employees feel compelled to go.

If a virtual game night at work is planned, it should be completely optional so that team members don't feel compelled to go if they need a break from their screens. Brain breaks and trivia questions can be integrated into meetings as alternatives. Making connections with coworkers should take place at work; yet, on sometimes, giving employees their time back to recharge for the next day is the ideal approach to foster relationships.

5.In-person summits every two or four months

While some businesses now function entirely remotely, others still use a hybrid model. Although there are many technologies available for working with coworkers virtually, nothing can completely match the benefits of physically being present at the same time.

In-person summits held every quarter or every two years can foster community and foster relationships. Companies are realizing the value of facetime, whether it is through one-day meetings or weeklong retreats. While some in-person summits emphasize camaraderie and teamwork, others emphasize strategic planning and big-picture thinking.

Tips by IceHrm, a promising digital HR platform.