Teams that are located within an office setting in one location tend to have an easier time cultivating positive working cultures. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to weigh heavy on businesses, many organizations are opting to continue remote working. Often, when employees are working remotely, they might feel disconnected from their co-workers and supervisors. It is up to leadership to determine and build a healthy work culture even when its employees are not physically in a single locations.

When teams are scattered, creating a unified culture can vastly increase productivity and happiness among employees. What steps should be taken in order to build a strong working culture where all employees feel appreciated, valued, and looped into the daily events of the company as a whole? Follow this helpful guide to learn more!

Schedule Zoom social calls

Prioritize time in each day for “water-cooler chat” or time to unwind among co-workers. Keep these conversations light and try not to bring up many topics related to work if possible. In an office setting, people depend upon the casual banter to help manage their stress levels as well as to socialize. The same applies to working remotely. Without this form of socialization, people may feel detached or lonely as a result. Even just seeing a face on screen rather than hearing their voice over the telephone can do wonders for one’s mental wellbeing. These calls can be fun and a good way to distract oneself from the unsettling events occurring around the world today.

Create time to celebrate accomplishments

Take time to distinguish the accomplishments of your co-workers. Recognize someone that has gone above and beyond or has been a key player in the completion of a project. This will drastically heighten the driven of all employees that participate. A simple shout out or team-wide email that recognizes the accomplishments of certain individuals will encourage employees to keep a positive attitude and to continue in that trajectory. These little celebrations can make a huge difference in the overall morale of an organization and its employees.

Create a shared accountability and trust

Building accountability and trust among managers and associates is imperative to a positive team environment and culture. With accountability, each team member knows and understands their role and can complete their job with little guidance. Of course, it is also highly important for people to regularly check-in with their managers, but when employees feel a sense of autonomy, they acknowledge that they are trusted to complete the job. Employees that feel a sense of trust from their superiors will be more likely to exhibit open communication up and down the chain of command.

Participate in open dialogues

Allowing employees to address their concerns regarding remote working can help to revitalize an organization’s culture as well. Companies can hold virtual “town hall meetings” to address the concerns of its employees. When management listens to these apprehensions, adjustments can be made to ensure that improvements can be made. What expectations do employees have of their leaders? What expectations do leaders have for their employees while remote working? These questions should be addressed openly and honestly to guarantee that all parties are able to succeed. By encouraging open communication, employees may also become more willing to approach their supervisors with true confidence and a sense that their best interests are always present amongst leadership.

All people within an organization should be accessible

Without the ability to see each other in person, it is important to maintain good accessibility. Companies can utilize accessibility tools that show an employee’s availability status. These programs can show if a person is currently available to speak, is away from their computer, or is even on a phone call or in a meeting. Many people are uncomfortable with feelings of uncertainty. Not knowing if people are available can provide feelings of anxiousness or isolation. However, allowing the opportunity for others to become aware of their co-worker’s whereabouts should help to create a culture of inclusion and trust.

Communication is key

It is imperative to continuously communicate with your team when working remotely. Keep everyone on the same page and those that are necessary, involved in projects. Do not ignore emails or meeting requests. Avoid feelings of loneliness by reaching out to others, even if just to say hello or to wish someone a good weekend. Constant and intentional communication brings teams together and enables all to feel valued in the long run. Silence on the other hand, leads to withdrawal from one’s co-workers.

Building and nurturing positive work cultures is especially important during these unparalleled times. As long as employers and managers create an environment where employees feel valued and empowered by their organizations, a stronger culture should follow along with that.