As communication technology enables teams to work hundreds of miles apart, or even in different countries, remote work is quite literally taking over the world. But how do leaders ensure they maintain a strong team culture, among groups who may never meet face-to-face?
By 2020, it is estimated that over 50% of the UK population will work remotely. From small businesses to blue-chip corporations, managers are looking to reduce overheads, encourage flexibility, and generally make work better for their employees. As the global remote workforce grows, businesses faces a company culture crisis: how do you unite a team who may never even meet? Thankfully, Wundamail have rounded-up the top insights from successful remote businesses, to help you find the best way to build a strong remote culture within your team.
Set Rules For Communication Technology
When it comes to communication, team leaders need to establish ground rules so that the whole team are on the same online channel or system. It’s a good idea to select a specific time each day for communicating, discussing problems or supporting one another. Otherwise, your employees will face a continuous barrage of emails with no clear method of dealing with them. In an office, you’d simply ask a quick question across the desk- but the physical difference can make this process more difficult.
Daily Updates Vs Hourly Updates
Real-time communication apps such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Yammer have grown in popularity over the last decade, but the continual stream of chatter enabled by instant messaging can prove distracting for remote workers.
What makes Wundamail different is that it condenses team activity into a simple, daily email. More than just a chat, it structures the conversation so that words and ideas actually become actions. Each day, everyone gives a quick update, and receives an accurate snapshot of collective thinking. Having a daily platform to talk through issues, push past roadblocks and find genuine solutions will minimise interruptions overall, and encourage collaboration across your remote workforce.
Recognise Good Work and Reward Progress
Traditionally, shared offices have been glue that links a team together. Without coffee breaks or post-work drinks, it can prove tricky to celebrate the success of workers who have gone the extra mile on a certain project. That said, Wundamail’s reward centre makes it easy to incentivise your remote team and give visibility to everyone’s contributions, regardless of distance.
As a team leader, you can set up Wundamail to automatically assign points to active Wundamail participants. You can also call out good behaviours and reward individuals for reaching the specific tasks or milestones you wish to praise. Everyone can view their progress and goals online, and once team members have scored enough points, they win their chosen reward. After one reward is secured, they are free to choose another, and the motivational cycle continues.
The best part about rewarding teams with Wundamail? You can broadcast team rewards for all to see, so everyone is aware of group progress. This makes recognition easy and engaging, helping every team member feel that their work is valued within the wider group. It also helps to keep individuals accountable, by creating a culture where peers understand each other’s targets, and hold each other responsible for achieving them.
Proactively Manage Communication
Face-to-face, it’s easy to motivate your team with a focused, ambitious vision for growth. When you’re managing a remote team, however, it can be difficult to translate that boardroom momentum via technology.
The trick is to be proactive with communication. This means regular check-ins, team updates, and gentle pointers to steer the group in the right direction. Of course, a strategy like this can be difficult to put into practice, particularly when traditional communication channels lack structure. Instant messaging can become distracting or overwhelming when your workforce are working different schedules, routines or even time zones.
And yet, it takes continuous, proactive management to build a strong group culture. People must learn to communicate, collaborate, and share in one anothers’ successes. Finally, with Wundamail, you can have it all. Having a clear, automated feedback loop that checks-in once a day will allow you to keep project progress on track, while allowing room for independent thinking. Wundamail empowers leaders, supports team members, and makes for a stronger remote culture.
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