blog home page>business consulting>The importance of culture in remote teams and how to cultivate it
6 minutes to read

benjamin graham.
Discover common mistakes to avoid and tips for creating job satisfaction in remote teams, along with helpful tools and resources.
The rise of telecommuting has been a huge trend over the past decade, with more and more companies allowing employees to work from home. According to a study recently published by Zippia,26% of US employees work remotely, is expected to grow to 36.2 million by 2025. This is largely due to technological advances that have made it easier for teams to stay connected and collaborate.
However, while telecommuting has many benefits, it also presents unique challenges when it comes to fostering a strong corporate culture. In an office environment, employees can build relationships through daily interaction and sharing experiences.
When you work remotely, these opportunities are limited and it takes extra effort to create an environment that fosters collaboration and innovation. This has to be a priority for the company.
What is corporate culture?
corporate culture meansValues, Beliefs, Behaviors and AttitudesShaping the work environment in the organization. It is the personality of the company and defines the way employees and management communicate with each other and with customers. Corporate culture is an important aspect of any organization and plays an important role in determining a company's success or failure.
Types of corporate culture
Every company has its own unique culture, which defines the way work is done within the organization. These cultures vary based on a variety of factors, including organizational size, industry, leadership style, and company mission and values.
here are someDifferent types of company culture:
- Innovative: Encourage employees to develop unique ideas and solutions.
- non-client centric: Drive the development of products, services and experiences that customers love.
- cooperating: Emphasize creating an environment that supports sharing, collaboration, and seeking feedback.
- In layers: Make sure employees know where they are in the hierarchy and that decisions come from the top.
- process oriented: Help employees work together to create efficient workflows and streamlined processes to maximize results.
- focus on results: Emphasizes achieving goals through highly focused measurement of results.
Depending on the nature of the work, these cultures can benefit your team.
Characteristics of a Successful Remote Enterprise Culture
Several key characteristics can help organizations create a successful remote culture. That includes:
- communicate: Remote workers must have access to effective communication tools, clear lines of communication, and regular meetings to keep all members on the same page.
- trust:Remote workers shouldReliable and capable eelsDevelop a sense of ownership in your work.
- flexibility: Giving employees freedom and time to deal with personal responsibilities can lead to a healthier work-life balance.
- responsibility: Establishing clear performance goals, objectives and KPIs ensures that all employees understand performance expectations. It also provides a sense of direction for the work and helps keep team members accountable.
- tolerance: A sense of inclusion and belonging is critical for remote team members to feel valued and respected. Make sure they are fully integrated into the company culture and have the opportunity to socialize and participate in team building activities.
- decipher: Celebrating wins and rewarding employees for achieving goals is essential, especially in remote work. It's a way to build trust, loyalty and commitment among remote workers.
- continuous learning: Fostering a culture of learning helps remote workers keep up with new developments while building new skills.
Embedding these values drives employee engagement and overall organizational growth.
The benefits of developing a corporate culture for remote teams
Developing and maintaining a strong company culture can have many benefits for remote teams, including:
- retain the best talent;
- increase productivity;
- improve communication;
- greater employee satisfaction;
- better adherence to goals;
- Improve creativity and innovation.
All of these advantages go a long way towards creating a positive and productive work environment.
The challenges of developing a corporate culture for remote teams
Developing company culture for remote teams presents a unique set of challenges, including:
- Employees on remote teams may never meet in person; therefore, the challenge is to develop the relationships and trust that typically occur in an office environment.
- Working across multiple time zones can result in working 24 hours a day, causing workflow and communication issues.
- It can be challenging for managers to monitor productivity remotely, making it difficult to assess employee performance.
- Remote workers can feel lonely or disconnected from their colleagues, compounded by a lack of social interaction.
- Misinterpreting information and misinterpreting tone or subtle cues can be challenging.
Companies must anticipate and respond effectively to these challenges.
Common mistakes related to developing company culture for remote teams
There are several common mistakes in developing company culture for remote teams:
- Failure to invest time and resources to ensure that communication is effective, efficient and timely can lead to misunderstandings, disappointment and alienation.
- Spending too much time on mundane tasks can lead to burnout and ultimately decrease productivity. tools likecall forwarding service, can help streamline the process and increase efficiency.
- Failure to set expectations about culture, values, goals and purpose can lead to employees lacking direction or a sense of purpose, which can lead to a lack of motivation.
Avoiding these common mistakes is critical.
Tips for Fostering a Remote Team Culture
Every business is different, but here are some tips that work for everyone:
- Schedule recurring video conferences and meetings: Regular interaction and team-building sessions are essential for building relationships and creating a cohesive remote team culture. Real-time videoconferencing enables face-to-face teamwork, improves communication and builds trust.
- develop strong leadership: Good leadership skills are essential in remote environments.Leaders in remote team environmentsThey must possess excellent communication skills to effectively manage teams and foster a culture of mutual respect, trust and recognition of achievement.
- Invest in third-party services:Incoming Call Center,virtual assistant, orOn-site phone serviceit's a way to free up time for managers and team leaders, allowing team members to stay focused and productive while keeping communication flowing.
- encourage cooperation: Communicate and share ideas easily and promote collaboration with tools that support document sharing, instant messaging, screen sharing, and video conferencing.
- Plan team social events:staff meetingImprove relationships, communication, and morale by allowing members to socialize and engage in team building activities.
These tips will help ensure remote teams can foster a culture of collaboration.
How should the company culture be different for remote teams?
Because remote teams tend to be more geographically dispersed and don't have the same face-to-face contact as traditional in-house teams, it's important to adapt your approach to building company culture accordingly.
A remote team culture should:
- Rules for establishing specific distances;
- implementDigital Team Building Events;
- Provide support for telecommuting challenges;
- Celebrate achievements virtually.
With the right approach, everyone can successfully contribute to the same culture.
Tools and resources to support the development of corporate culture
There are several tools and resources available to remote teams to support company culture development. here are some examples:
- Video conferencing tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Hangouts allow team members to connect in real time, build relationships and promote collaboration.
- Team chat solutions like Slack or Microsoft Teams allow remote teams to stay connected.
- Team building platforms such asteam unitOffers online events that help strengthen relationships and build trust.
- Virtual event software like Eventbrite or Meetup are great for organizing social gatherings to keep team morale high.
With the right tools and resources, remote teams can create and maintain an engaging culture for the long term.
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FAQs
How do you build culture on a remote team? ›
- 10 Tips to build a positive remote working culture. ...
- Onboard your employees the right way. ...
- Support professional growth. ...
- Create connections between teammates. ...
- Communicate and collaborate. ...
- Prioritize facetime and prevent isolation. ...
- Keep work fun. ...
- Embrace gamification.
- Define, Share, and Keep Updating Your Company Culture. ...
- Create a Psychologically Safe Space. ...
- Give New Employees the Best Virtual Onboarding Ever. ...
- Create Communication and Collaboration Standards.
- Incorporate values from day one: Add your values to the company website and ask value-centric questions during the hiring process.
- Start a weekly round-up: Create a weekly email for employees to share how they integrated the company values into their workflow.
- Clearly define your values and mission. Business culture is the living, breathing embodiment of its core values and mission. ...
- Be transparent. ...
- Ask for feedback. ...
- Prioritize continuous learning. ...
- Leverage modern communication and collaboration tools. ...
- Recognize wins and accomplishments.
Good communication is essential for remote work. And for most companies, that means communicating via voice calls, video meetings, and messaging. If you can, try to use versatile tools that can do multiple things well.
What is an amazing remote work culture? ›The surest sign of a strong remote work culture is a sense of belonging. Employees will feel a sense of connection to coworkers and the company mission, despite not sharing a physical workspace. Happy employees form friendships with coworkers and share positive sentiments about the company.
How do you engage remote employees in company culture? ›- Prioritize Communication. Remote employees can often feel like they're left out of the loop. ...
- Set Clear Expectations. Be sure to communicate your expectations of your employees while they work from home. ...
- Recognize Good Work. ...
- Encourage Work/Life Balance. ...
- Demonstrate a Collaborative Culture.
- Distinguish Culture From Climate.
- Focus On Building Trust First.
- Place Employee Wellbeing At The Forefront.
- Make Values The 'North Star'
- Redefine And Renegotiate Expectations.
- Use The Right Tech Tools.
- Focus On Teamwork.
- Prioritize Good Communication.
- Provide access to resources.
- Establish a sense of connection.
- Offer diverse remote benefits.
- Get key stakeholders on board to cheerlead company culture.
- Embrace Innovation. ...
- Be Present. ...
- Survey Your Team. ...
- Schedule Dedicated Social Time. ...
- Use Visual Cues to Access "Work Mode" ...
- Communication is Key. ...
- Revisit Your Values.
How do you keep remote culture from going stale? ›
- Encourage health and wellness. ...
- Host virtual meetings and casual hangouts. ...
- Make sure employees feel heard and valued. ...
- Foster personal connections. ...
- Keep the lines of communication open.
- Establish clear expectations. ...
- Implement the right communication channels. ...
- Set regular check-in times. ...
- Invest in mental health and well-being. ...
- Celebrate both small and big wins. ...
- Document everything. ...
- Provide socializing opportunities.
- Notice, welcome and include people. ...
- Make connections with people and help them connect with others in the organization. ...
- Use high expectations to encourage success. ...
- Create positive relationships with your team members.
- Establish Trust. ...
- Determine The Current Culture. ...
- Define The Ideal Workplace Culture. ...
- Set Clear Expectations And Goals. ...
- Measure Goals And Give Feedback Frequently. ...
- Recognize And Reward Good Work. ...
- Develop Employees.
- Share everything you're working on and create records of your work. ...
- Be super clear. ...
- Trust your team and your manager. ...
- Start from a place of trust. ...
- Use the flexibility of being remote to your advantage. ...
- Agree on clear targets and deadlines for your team.
A need for control—managers finding it harder to stay on top of, and trust, their teams remotely. Visibility of employees—and the resulting impact on praise, promotions, and favorability. Culture—there is a concern that teams who don't meet in person won't connect or collaborate effectively.
How do you create a positive work environment virtually? ›- Develop a Communication Strategy.
- Establish Clear Goals and Expectations.
- Encourage Collaboration and Team Building.
- Provide the Necessary Tools and Resources.
- Check In with Your Team.
- Encourage Breaks.
- Virtual Events Are Important.
- Feedback Is Key.
- Fun.
- Challenging.
- Friendly.
- Engaging.
- Rewarding.
- Collaborative.
- Flexible.
- Supportive.
Your productivity skyrockets when working in an environment that has decreased distractions. Working from home gives you the space to think critically and perform better. You're thrilled with the prospect of working for a company you admire without being limited by your geographical location.
How do you make remote employees feel valued? ›- Say Thank You. ...
- Communicate Frequently. ...
- Recognize Birthdays and Work Anniversaries. ...
- Host Virtual Team-building Events. ...
- Set Clear Expectations. ...
- Be Flexible with Working Hours. ...
- Introduce New Team Members. ...
- Challenge Your Employees.
How do you make remote employees feel welcome? ›
- Urge teams to reach out early to new hires. ...
- Send company-branded swag. ...
- Ensure that new employees receive all their tools. ...
- Encourage new hires to post on social media. ...
- Create opportunities for connection. ...
- Create new employee groups. ...
- Tell new workers about ERGs.
- Strategy 1: Level Up Internal Communication.
- Strategy 2: Improve Participation.
- Strategy 3: Show Your Appreciation.
- Strategy 4: Measure Remote Employee Engagement.
- Stay connected through technology. ...
- Foster social interaction. ...
- Show employees you care. ...
- Ask for and listen to feedback. ...
- Recognize employee contributions. ...
- Keep them in the know. ...
- Support your newest hires. ...
- Give employees the tools to succeed.
- Live your values. Leading by example can be the most effective way when you try to encourage change within a culture. ...
- Set the right goals and communication. ...
- Establish leadership. ...
- Involve your employees. ...
- Monitor progress and measure success. ...
- Provide adequate digital tools.
- Avoid over-indexing on structure. Structure is critical to steering large, diverse organizations. ...
- Provide autonomy where it makes sense. ...
- Drive lasting behavior change.
- Align your team around a shared vision. ...
- Communicate in the context of your projects. ...
- Set expectations for communication. ...
- Make the most of meetings. ...
- Prioritize in-depth work. ...
- Embracing remote work.
- Keep values front and center. ...
- Create a sense of belonging for all. ...
- Make it easy to celebrate. ...
- Keep information flowing. ...
- Think of your organization as a community. ...
- Give everyone a voice. ...
- Make mission-critical information available. ...
- Challenge traditional frameworks.
- Set time aside for chit-chat during meetings. ...
- Use video chat for meetings. ...
- Create a group chat. ...
- Create contests – with prizes. ...
- Create a virtual breakroom.
Remote work culture is defined as the digital culture within an organization which enables employees to stay connected through shared experiences, interests, and priorities. A strong remote work culture gives employees a sense of belonging that transcends physical boundaries.
What is the organizational culture in a virtual world? ›While all organizations have a unique culture, a virtual -organizational culture refers specifically to the relationships that are created through interactions between employees within the online organizational structure.
How do you keep a culture alive in an organization? ›
- Personify It. In other words, be it. ...
- Feed It. Culture can be starved by toxic personalities and hidden agendas that choke out the good growth that's working to see light. ...
- Nurture It. ...
- Grow It. ...
- Tend To It.
- Trust, Autonomy, and Inclusivity.
- Maintain Transparent Communication.
- Create Virtual Networks and Encourage Virtual Bonding.
- Focus On Employees. ...
- Communicate The Culture Constantly And Consistently. ...
- Model Good Leadership Skills. ...
- Establish Emotional Connections.
Remote work culture is an unconditional feeling of connection co-workers experience when they're bonded by similar priorities, interests, and attitudes. This feeling of connection survives when people don't see each other on a regular basis. Strong work cultures give people an unshakable sense of belonging.
How do you build a strong remote team? ›- 10 Tips to build a positive remote working culture. ...
- Onboard your employees the right way. ...
- Support professional growth. ...
- Create connections between teammates. ...
- Communicate and collaborate. ...
- Prioritize facetime and prevent isolation. ...
- Keep work fun. ...
- Embrace gamification.
- Set clear expectations with your team.
- Put performance over presence.
- Track projects and review frequently.
- Make communication easy.
- Focus on positivity.
- Encourage freedom, ensure engagement.
- Lead by example.
- Help new remote workers feel connected and useful.
A shared sense of purpose, organizational priorities, and an understanding of one's and others' roles are essential to effective teamwork. The best teams can't work well together if the conditions don't support it. Proper incentives, recognition, and support are foundational to strong team cultures.
What creates a positive team culture? ›Encourage transparency and open communication among department heads, management and team members. Let every employee have a seat at the table and empower them to share their thoughts. Create opportunities for employees to get to know one another at work and outside of work to foster meaningful relationships.
What are the three C's of successful teams? ›For our teams to succeed under any circumstance, we must always prioritize communication, team coordination, and cooperation.
What does a strong team culture look like? ›A good team culture has employees upholding the company's values and behavioral policies, leading them to work with respect and support towards each other, generating a nice environment where employees work happy and committed to achieving the organization's goals.
How do you contribute to team culture? ›
- Foster Connection Opportunities. ...
- Be Welcoming and Take Notice of Workers. ...
- Enjoy Team-Building Together. ...
- Create Stability. ...
- Uphold High Expectations. ...
- Keep Everyone Accountable. ...
- Respect Team Members' Personal Lives. ...
- Practice What You Preach.
- Encourage work/life balance.
- Create more opportunities for connection.
- Invest in human resources (or people/talent) management.
- Evaluate technology and processing.
- Foster a culture of belonging.
- Redefine your workplace culture.
- In summary.
By definition, remote-first means that few (if any) people are regularly required to perform their jobs from a centralized office. Employees instead work from another location, such as a home office or co-working space.
What is a remote-first mindset? ›The remote-first mindset assumes that the work team will be, first and foremost, a remote team, even if part of the team works from an office. This decision poses certain challenges for managing and organising remote teams that make it distinct from an office-based team.
How do I connect virtually with coworkers? ›- Get involved with virtual activities.
- Embrace the meeting small talk.
- Participate in a virtual coffee break.
- Actively reward and recognise your co-workers.
- Be mindful of having your camera turned on.
- Be present for your morning meetings.
- Open and read those company updates.
- Decide What your Ideal Company Culture Looks Like.
- Compare Ideal Company Culture to the Existing One.
- Ask Employees for Input.
- Encourage Work-Life Balance to Reduce Stress.
- Make Sure Employees Know Your Expectations.
- Hire Candidates for Culture First.
- Ask yourself 'why am I on social media? ' ...
- Make sure you use the right platforms for you. ...
- Let your audience know you're on social media. ...
- Optimise your profiles. ...
- Keep an eye on algorithms and updates. ...
- Create an editorial schedule. ...
- Keep it fresh. ...
- Don't push the hard sell.
- Establish an Open Door Policy. ...
- Install a Knowledge Sharing Platform. ...
- Actively Encourage Knowledge Sharing. ...
- Reward Employees Who are Sharing Knowledge. ...
- Let Them Know Mistakes are OK. ...
- Give Each New Employee a Mentor. ...
- Allow New Hires to Shadow Employees.