It’s 5:00pm on a Tuesday. As you log off for the day, you feel good about what you’ve accomplished. You sent expense reports, finished building a 30-slide Power Point presentation, and tackled that daunting spreadsheet you’ve been putting off. But as you reflect, you’re bothered by something.
You realize the only words you’ve spoken all day have been to the dog. You suddenly feel a vague emptiness.
Anyone who works remotely has felt this way at least once. As remote work becomes more common, it’s crucial for companies to prioritize the well-being and morale of their remote workers. This blog uncovers methods to boost morale in remote work environments and foster connections across the company.
Understanding the challenges of remote work
Remote work has many benefits, like flexibility and access to a wider talent pool. Ask any remote worker, and they’ll rave about the benefit of gaining back time in their day from not having to commute.
But remote work comes with challenges that can affect morale and productivity if left unmanaged. Knowing these challenges is key to building team morale in a remote setting.
The lack of face-to-face interaction is one of the biggest hurdles – it can make employees feel isolated. Plus, the blurred lines between work and personal life lead to longer hours and more stress for some. Company leaders must address these common issues to boost morale for remote employees.
Effective communication in remote teams
Remote work doesn’t work without effective communication. Here are some tips to enhance communication in your remote teams:
Choose the right tools: Implement and embrace collaboration software that allows you to communicate, meet, and share files. Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom, Google Meet, and Google Chat are widely used apps that help remote workers (and in-office staff) stay organized and connected.
Establish clear channels: Define communication channels for different purposes. For example, a collaboration app like Microsoft Teams is perfect for quick questions and status updates, file sharing, lower importance topics, and more informal work chats. Save email for formal leadership communications and in-depth topics with high importance. Using the right channel for the right moment eliminates confusion while keeping everyone informed.
Fostering a positive remote work culture
When a remote employee feels forgotten and irrelevant, they’re less motivated. When a remote employee feels noticed and valued, they’re more motivated. Here are some ways to foster positivity and make your company a great place to work:
Recognize and appreciate: Regularly acknowledge the hard work and achievements of remote employees. Lead a virtual meeting with your team or initiate a personal video call. An employee recognition program, like Motivosity or Bonusly, also helps colleagues appreciate each other’s efforts.
Create a sense of belonging: As mentioned earlier, remote employees can feel isolated. Organize virtual coffee breaks, happy hours, or trivia games to build team camaraderie. Rural Mutual’s social group (appropriately called 4:01 Club) regularly hosts Wisconsin-themed trivia contests that have become popular with staff.
Encourage collaboration: Use project management tools to enable effective communication and collaboration. There’s no shortage of software options to choose from, some of which are free. It’s also smart to conduct regular check-ins and virtual brainstorming sessions to stay connected with your team.
Promoting work-life balance for remote workers
Maintaining a healthy balance requires setting boundaries, both physically and mentally.
Start by stressing the importance of a dedicated workspace – like a separate room or specific area at home for just work. Physically separating work from personal space (like the couch) helps signal the end of the workday.
Within this dedicated workspace, dress for work. Lead by example on this. When employees see their boss dressed professionally on a Zoom call, they’re less likely to stay in sweatpants all day. Implement a work-from-home wardrobe policy, if necessary. Staff may resist at first, but dressing more professionally will help them keep their work and home lives separate.
It’s also important to encourage regular breaks and self-care. Remote workers can easily get caught up in tasks, leading to burnout. Advocate for short breaks to stretch, walk the dog, or simply give their eyes a break.
Just as working remotely can feel isolating, so can running your own business. Partner with a local agent to customize a protection plan for your business, should the unexpected happen.
