Teamwork boosts morale and performance, but how can workers collaborate when they are hardly in the same location?
Many businesses are searching for new team building tactics as working remotely becomes more prominent.
There are several benefits to working from home. For instance, you can have more flexibility while lowering your ecological footprint.
But, if you’re working from home currently, you may feel isolated and find it tough to connect.
Figure out how to work productively with virtual teams. Try these methods to improve unity and teamwork.
Informal Techniques for Building a Remote Team
Employees in a traditional workplace can visit each other’s cubicles and socialize in the break area.
Consider the following approaches for fostering casual socializing that helps in the development of healthy work relationships:
- Begin meetings slowly. Before group meetings is one of the most opportune times to participate in small talk. Encourage people to arrive early so they can discuss their plans for the weekend or common interests.
- Have fun with games. Create possibilities for some friendly competition. For online games, divide employees into teams. Organize cooking competitions and talent exhibitions. Maybe even organize a couple of rounds of virtual ping-pong.
- Host parties. Maintain contact via virtual happy hours and employee birthday celebrations. Employees should be polled to discover what other types of entertainment they would like.
- Encourage physical activity. Have you been more sedentary since being at home? Long periods of sitting should be broken up. Assemble your team for online workout lessons or stretching exercises.
- Give gifts. Freebies might show the IT personnel or accounting team how much they are valued. Distribute gift cards for local coffee shops and other establishments (also a good way to network with other local business owners). Order coffee cups with your corporate logo and the names of each employee.
- Be inclusive. Create an environment where diversity is embraced and mutual respect reigns supreme. Respect various points of view and empathize with one another.
Formal Techniques for Building a Remote Team
More structured approaches are also needed for optimal team building.
These activities can be tailored to your team’s needs and the nature of your work:
Make a plan. Take a scientific approach to team development so you can track your progress. Create a detailed plan that includes precise metrics, objectives and deadlines.
Establish ground rules. Collaborate with your team to create basic rules for communication and other significant challenges. Employees, for example, could be instructed to switch off phones before meetings and reply to messages within 2 business days.
Create goals. Having common goals is one of the most important criteria for transforming a group of individuals into a team. Employees should be tested to see how well they grasp the company’s vision and objectives and how it pertains to their job. Consider the purpose of daily tasks.
Demonstrate impact. Support your team to see how their actions are making a real difference. Celebrate excellence and share accomplishments.
Have a one-on-one meeting. How frequently do supervisors and managers have private meetings with the employees who report to them? One-on-one meetings are a valuable resource for connecting, and sharing project status and professional development goals. Coworkers may benefit from meetings with one another too.
Switch the channel. With so many methods to connect, determining which solutions are most successful for certain jobs may take some time. Allow workers to experiment with video calls, instant messaging, and Slack channels to find the best combination for your company.
While working remotely, you can still benefit from being a member of an amazing team. Effective teamwork based on interaction and collaboration will allow you to learn from one another and effectively pursue common goals.
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