It’s no secret — more and more people are working remotely, with many companies are shifting to being fully remote or hybrid. And when some (or all!) of your team is working from home, those casual, in-office chats just don’t happen. For remote and hybrid teams, it’s especially important to intentionally take the time out to stay connected with your team.
So, how do you stay connected to your team?
Wondering how to stay connected to your remote team while working from home? We’ve compiled a few of our favorite tips that can help foster connection, keep everyone engaged, and build a sense of real camaraderie.
With all of these tips, it’s important to be mindful of other people’s time and schedules — you don’t want to bog your coworker down with small talk while they’re in the middle of a busy workday. It’s also important to recognize boundaries between work and home, and understand that everyone might have different levels of what they’re comfortable sharing at work. At the same time, it’s a great idea to consider ways your team can improve on staying connected and feel less isolated.
1. Try keeping your camera on
There can be a real value to keeping a camera on while you're on a video call. Even though it’s not the same as chatting in person, it’s the closest you could get to a face-to-face connection while still staying virtual. Being able to see your coworkers’ expressions and other non-verbal cues can help to foster a real sense of connection within your team.
Plus, besides building a sense of camaraderie between coworkers, keeping your camera on can keep you engaged with the conversation and more likely to stay involved.
2. Chat in real-time, when you can
Don’t shy away from hopping on a quick call or Zoom chat, when possible. While it’s important to be thoughtful about time zone differences or disrupting your coworker’s daily routine, there can also be some significant value in a real-time conversation. It’s a great reminder that your coworkers are just there, working away with you, even though you can’t actually see them.
3. Schedule regular check-ins
There’s something to be said for being mindful of everyone’s time and avoiding overscheduling meetings, but having regular check-ins to some extent can also be a big help keep your team connected. Especially for employees who work more independently on projects or are in small teams, checking in can help them feel involved and engaged with their work.
4. Try creating "non-work" Slack channels
Creating opportunities for your team to have conversations that aren’t work-related can help keep your team engaged and build morale. Casual yet professional conversations in the workplace can help remote co-workers find things in common and really connect with each other.
A great way to do this is through Slack — try creating channels dedicated to things like music, pets, the weather, and more — then let those conversations just naturally flow!
5. Host virtual events for your team
Hosting a virtual event can be an amazing tool for connecting with your team in a fun, non-work capacity. It’s a great way to break up the daily grind, boost engagement, and help everyone get to know each other.
Marco creates extraordinary and memorable experiences that bring teams together. From virtual wine tasting to hot sauce making to trivia night, discover incredible experiences designed for hybrid and remote teams. Every experience with Marco is curated, tested, and organized — so all you need to do is pick an experience for your team, and let Marco do the heavy lifting.
