Building Stronger Remote Teams

Building Stronger Remote Teams

August 19, 2020 June 27th, 2022

Building Stronger Remote Teams

 

While many of us are still adjusting to the new norm of remote teams or working from home, we are learning that although it appears difficult at times, it also comes with many benefits. Perhaps remote teams are the new future? 

Remote teams are known to produce higher productivity levels, thanks to the flexibility offered by remote working. Virtual employees get to avoid the daily commute and the distractions and pressures of a traditional office environment. They are happier, have more energy, time and the flexibility to work during non-traditional hours when they feel most productive. As a virtual employee, they can create their ideal work environment to focus better and complete more work in less time.

So how can you ensure that your remote team are happy, productive and still delivering results for the company? Below are some tips and tricks we have learned along the way that are sure to help you on your path of building stronger remote teams. 

1. Get Communications Right

Avoid wasting time and resources using the wrong communication tools. For quick confirmation or clarification, use an instant messaging platform such as Slack. For weekly team meetings or catch-ups, use a video conferencing platform like Zoom. Use email for scheduling or sending information to team members. There are many ways to communicate with your remote team – use a combination of tools that do not limit their effectiveness. 

2. Common Availability Hours

Although you may be encouraging a healthy work-life balance and allowing virtual employees to work when they feel most productive, consider defining common availability hours when everyone on the team must be online. Make these mandatory. Being in a remote or virtual team can feel isolating at times and having a couple of hours in the day when everyone is online will ensure your team feel connected. This will also help with getting projects, approvals, deadlines etc. over the line.

3. Avoid Micromanaging

A lack of independence and trust can easily demotivate your remote team by making them feel undervalued. Recognize the value of their independence, and how much support they really need. Once you begin trusting your employees, you’ll find it easier to relax and focus on other tasks. Additionally, showing you trust your employees validates their work and motivates them to do better.

4. Encourage Socialization 

Working remotely means there is no such thing as coffee break catch-ups or conversations by the water cooler, encourage socialization to strengthen virtual team chemistry.  Once a week, maybe during your Friday meetings, do something fun and unrelated to work. Play a game, share stories or download an app-based team challenge. Isolation can have a huge impact on productivity and motivation – encouraging ‘unwind time’ will be beneficial to everyone.

  • Delegate playing one of Orangeworks remote team building activities with her remote team.
  • A delegate playing one of Orangeworks icebreakers for remote teams with her colleagues on Zoom.
  • Delegates playing Planet Bingo, one of Orangeworks remote team building activities.
  • Delegate chatting to her colleagues on an Orangeworks Zoom call.
  • Delegate lip syncing as part of his virtual team building activity with Orangeworks.
  • Delegate playing one of Orangeworks virtual team building activities with her remote team.
  • Delegate playing Orangeworks virtual team building activity called Blockbusters On Location.
  • Delagate playing Orangeworks virtual team bonding activity Digital Global Innovation Game.
  • Delegate celebrating with his virtual team as they have completed the remote team building activity 'Digital Global Innovation Game'.
  • Delegate playing Orangeworks virtual team building activity called In The Picture.
  • Delegate playing Orangeworks virtual team building game called Body Rap, on Zoom with her remote working team.
  • Delagate playing Escape the Mob Online - a virtual team building experience by Orangeworks.
  • Delegate playing Orangeworks virtual team building activity called In The Picture.
  • Delegate playing Orangeworks online team building game called Body Rap, on Zoom with her remote working team.
  • Delegate debriefing with his team after an Orangeworks remote team building activity on Zoom.
  • Delegate playing Orangeworks virtual team building activity called Blockbusters On Location.
  • A delegate playing Race Around The World with her team, a fun remote team building activity hosted by Orangeworks.

Orangeworks virtual and remote team building activities are designed to help your team become more connected, motivated and engaged. They work towards getting your team in a creative headspace and potentially unleashing hidden skills they didn’t know they had! Most importantly, our clients leave smiling, happy and with long-lasting memories.

Contact us via the button below if you would like more information on our range of online games for remote teams or virtual team building icebreakers! We offer over 14 different fun activities for remote employees.

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