Building Company Culture…Remotely

Many traditional teambuilding activities don't work the same with remote teams, but certain strategies can bring remote teams together. Heather Morgan, co-founder and CEO of Endpass and a serial software entrepreneur who has managed remote teams for a decade, has some culture-enhancing tips:

• Have a shared mission: Beyond objectives and metrics, a compelling mission engages people even when no one is watching.
• Hire for fit: Onboard people who reflect your company’s values and operating style.
• Facilitate ongoing learning: Encourage team members to share new knowledge and resources.
• Provide opportunities for feedback and self-reflection: This is especially important for remote teams, as not everyone is proactive enough to reach out to a manager to get the help they need.
• Publicly acknowledge wins: Celebrate wins by teams or individual team members by posting on your company’s messaging platform.
• Create a virtual water cooler: If you use Slack, consider having different channels, including one that is #random, where team members post jokes, photos, and personal projects.
  
  

Of course, the key to all such strategies depends on communication. Our recent article in Fast Company details best practices for communicating with remote teams, whether you're collaborating remotely due to Covid-19, or you typically work this way. What suggestions do you have for uniting remote teams? To join the conversation, click "comments" above.

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