Building a Strong Company Culture with a Remote Team

A company culture is one of the essential aspects of a well-operating company. Company culture defines your employees' day-to-day experiences in the workplace. It establishes which beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors should shape the work environment.

All these aspects, together with the company’s values and goals, create a company culture. A healthy company culture sets clear expectations on how the work is getting done, and why it is getting done. It creates a bond between employees, as it helps them see the bigger picture, and work together as a team to achieve it.

Before you start improving the company culture, the priority is to understand it. Let’s discuss why it is important, what affects it, and then provide tips on building a remote culture.

Why is company culture important, especially for a remote team?

It may be difficult for new employers to estimate how important remote company culture can be. The job survey conducted in 2019 showed that 40% of employees find company culture to be one of the most important aspects of a new job.

Companies with a healthy culture soon see benefits. Their teams are more productive and engaged. In a healthy office environment, your employees will be excited to start the new workday and do their best to contribute to your company’s success. In the long run, the company culture will positively impact employee retention.

On the flip side, poor company culture will result in poor performance, low retention rates, and higher stress levels. Negative company culture results in, on average, 18% lower productivity. Absenteeism is higher in companies with a negative culture. 31% of employees miss work due to stress and negativity.

What are some of the key aspects that shape a company's culture?

Several factors help shape company culture. Still, how an organization treats its employees is one of the crucial ones. It is almost paramount for companies to treat their employees fairly and value their opinions and expertise.

A strong company mission is also important, as it gives employees a shared purpose and can lead to better business results. Expectations around work style and volume play a big role in achieving the company's mission. It affects whether the culture is laid-back or high-performance. It also dictates how much importance is placed on work-life balance.

Communication styles matter as well. Some companies encourage open, friendly interactions, while others promote a more reserved approach. All of these aspects will play a key role in your company culture, and how it’s perceived by your employees, old and new.

How can you create a strong company culture with a remote team?

Building a remote culture is tricky both remotely and in-office. However, with remote teams, the focus should be placed on creating easy communication, collaboration, and healthy relationships. These are not as easily achieved as they would be in office.

1. Start with proper onboarding

The first step to creating a strong company culture starts with onboarding. You need to make sure that the onboarding process runs smoothly and that you are making a good impression from day one.

Consider informing your old team of a new team member upfront, and designate a mentor for them even before they log in. Create strong policies, guidelines, and all the necessary documentation that will help your new team member feel at home from day one.

2. Make communication and collaboration easy

Collaboration and relationships will only work if it's easy for your employees to talk to each other. One of the top priorities when building culture in a remote team should be to choose the right communication software.

After you set up the channels, ensure your new employee knows what's appropriate. Set up clear expectations on the desired timeframe for replies and when you would like them to be available. Make sure you also establish safe channels for feedback.

3. Prioritize face-time whenever possible to avoid isolation

One of the most troublesome aspects of remote work is that it can lead to feelings of isolation and depression. Some employees enjoy the office noise and chit-chat. Working remotely on a screen might be daunting for them.

To create a positive work culture and environment, it is important to prevent feelings of isolation among your employees. Try to hold team meetings where cameras are mandatory. Prioritize one-on-one meetings among your employees, and encourage them to turn their cameras on. When possible, try to organize in-person meetups and team-building activities.

4. Embrace gamification to make work fun

Adding fun elements to work can make tasks more enjoyable and boost team spirit. Gamification uses game-like features to motivate your team. These include rewards, points, and challenges. It can be as simple as creating friendly competitions or setting up a rewards system for meeting goals.

Implementing gamification helps keep remote employees engaged and excited about their work. You could set up leaderboards for completed tasks or offer small prizes for team achievements. It makes work more enjoyable and creates a sense of friendly competition and collaboration among team members.

5. Recognize achievements and successes

Acknowledging your team's hard work and successes is crucial in building a positive company culture. When remote employees feel appreciated, they are more likely to stay motivated and committed. Regularly recognize individual and team accomplishments. Use shout-outs in meetings, company-wide emails, or a recognition channel.

Creating a culture of appreciation helps your team feel valued and seen, even from afar. Simple gestures like sending a thank-you note or offering small rewards can go a long way in boosting morale. Celebrating achievements highlights the importance of their work and strengthens the team bond.

6. Create opportunities for professional development

Investing in your team's growth shows that you care about their future and want them to succeed. Offer online courses, webinars, and training sessions to help your employees develop new skills. Encourage them to set personal development goals and support them in achieving these milestones.

Providing professional development opportunities keeps your remote team engaged and motivated. It also helps them stay updated with industry trends and advancements. By creating a learning environment, you show that you value their growth. Your employees need to know that you are committed to their long-term success, which in turn strengthens your company culture.

7. Support healthy work-life balance

The best way to show your employees they are valued and appreciated is to support them even outside of work. This starts by respecting their free time and time spent outside work.

Set clear expectations for when your employees should be available and when to log off. This will help prevent "always on" burnout. Try to set up asynchronous communication so that your employees don’t feel the need to answer messages and emails after hours.

Lastly, make sure to reevaluate the task list for each of your employees regularly. Try not to overburden them with tasks so that they feel they should contribute their free time to work. Establish clear guidelines and boundaries with your team, and make sure everyone respects other’s free time.

FAQs:

How to adapt company culture for remote work?

To adapt company culture for remote work, focus on clear communication and set expectations for remote work. Use digital tools to stay connected and encourage regular team meetings to maintain a sense of community. Also, support your employees' work-life balance by respecting their time off.

What does an amazing remote work culture look like?

An amazing remote work culture has open communication, trust, and a sense of community. It supports flexible hours, values employees, and offers growth opportunities. Employees feel connected and appreciated, even when working from different locations.

What are the cultural challenges of remote work?

Remote work can lead to feelings of isolation and difficulty in building strong team relationships. Communication can be harder, and misunderstandings may happen more often. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance and keeping everyone engaged can also be challenging.