Managers sure wonder about remote work and whether it is a win-win situation or not. Of course, the remote worker thinks it’s fabulous — but I’m not so sure.
Some companies that adopted a remote-first strategy feel that they freed up a significant amount of money that would otherwise be allocated to fixed company expenditures, such as office space and employee perks, while also increasing team productivity.
Approximately 90 percent of the employers that responded to PwC’s survey reported no change in their team’s productivity in 2024, and it was better than when they worked from an office. But is that the same information, now?
The ability to work from home also provides the chance to assemble teams quickly from individuals from all around the globe. Employees who work remotely have the opportunity to relax. Since they have more freedom and flexibility in their schedules, this arrangement makes it possible to travel. And establish their work-life balance according to their requirements.
What’s next for remote meetings?
In theory, everything is lovely, but things aren’t always that delightful in actuality. As a CEO of a remote-first firm, you must grasp the difficulties of assembling a team that spans time zones, countries, and cultures. Meanwhile, still communicating effectively and establishing meaningful, long-lasting bonds with your employees can be an issue.
According to the experts, here’s what specialists have learned from their travels in doing just this over the past couple of years.
As the CEO of a small firm, you will have the freedom and flexibility to work from any location at any time of day or night. In these situations, your plan serves as one of your primary means of communicating with others. No other way to effectively communicate your availability or focus on essential tasks exists in your company. Therefore, scheduling everything you do and keeping your calendar up to date is necessary. This will allow everyone to respect their colleagues’ time and ensure that schedules do not overlap. If you need to meet with someone, simply look at their schedule and figure out the best time to meet with them.
Tip: Make yourself accessible
Let’s use the fact that we have phones and a lot of technology. Make short phone calls—no more than 30-minute meetings—and remind each other that you’re just a text message away.
Even though automation is becoming more popular, you are still working with people rather than robots. People working remotely think of past conversations over coffee and passing each other’s desks to say hello when they were in the office. It also became usual to attend meetings and log out as fast as possible.
However, we are still human, and we need even a tiny amount of cohabitation with the individuals with whom we spend most of our time throughout the week. Remote work doesn’t mean being remote. To maintain a sense of togetherness, it’s essential to adapt and create activities that promote it. For example, monthly happy hours where you and your coworkers can talk about anything other than work while getting to know one another. That is to say, taking advantage of the opportunity to interact with people from different countries is beneficial.
As a suggestion, form groups where your team members may relax and discuss their own experiences, interests, and ideas. It is possible for people who live in the same nation to come together and form local communities.
Encourage the formation of remote work teams.
Practical cooperation aids in the formation of bonds and the development of trust among team members. This is true. It is critical to create clearly defined teams since this establishes the expectation that individuals will work together, even when distance separates them. Individuals must understand where they fit in and to whom they are accountable to minimize misunderstanding.
Meet with your team frequently. Using video conferencing rather than an audio call is preferable. Connecting this way helps to foster a feeling of community and familiarity. Moreover, it allows you to connect more effectively with your colleagues by analyzing their facial expressions and body language. It’s a remote work truism.
Don’t be scared to approach individuals and ask them to turn on their cameras. Some managers take it a step further and tell them that it’s okay if they are still in their jammies when they get to work.
Make remote work endure as long as possible.
Working from home does not imply being isolated. Even if the remainder of your team is worldwide, remote employees may still form meaningful bonds with one another. Keep in mind that maintaining and communicating across remote teams requires consistent effort.
When you overcome the difficulties, you will reap the benefits of managing a cohesive global team.
Invest in Virtual Team Building Activities and Social Events
Virtual team building activities and social events play a crucial role in fostering team cohesion and creating a positive work environment, despite the physical distance between team members. Firstly, these activities provide an opportunity for team members to connect on a personal level. By engaging in virtual team building activities, such as online games or virtual icebreakers, team members can break the ice, get to know each other, and build meaningful relationships beyond work-related interactions. This strengthens trust and rapport within the team, leading to improved collaboration and communication.
Teams that are virtual need building activities and social events to help combat feelings of isolation and promote a sense of belonging. Remote work can be isolating, and team members may miss the interactions that naturally occur in a physical office environment. By organizing virtual social events, such as virtual happy hours, online team lunches, or themed virtual parties, team members have an opportunity to relax, have fun, and connect with colleagues in a more informal setting. This helps alleviate feelings of isolation and reinforces a sense of community and support.
Teamwork and Well Being
Your virtual team building activities can enhance teamwork and collaboration. Through interactive virtual challenges, problem-solving activities, or team-based games, team members can strengthen their ability to work together, communicate effectively, and leverage each other’s strengths. By engaging in collaborative virtual activities, team members learn to trust and rely on one another, fostering a sense of camaraderie and unity within the team.
Building a virtual team through activities and social events contributes to employee engagement and well-being. These activities provide a break from work-related tasks, allowing team members to recharge, de-stress, and rejuvenate. By promoting a healthy work-life balance and creating opportunities for social connections, organizations demonstrate their commitment to employee well-being and job satisfaction. This, in turn, can lead to higher productivity, motivation, and overall team performance.
Image Credit: Pexels, Andrea Piacquadio
John Hall
John Hall is the co-founder of Calendar a scheduling and time management app. He’s also a keynote speaker that you can book at http://www.johnhallspeaking.com.