The pandemic forced a rapid shift to remote work for many businesses. Since then most employees have returned to the office but many remained remote, leaving entrepreneurs with a new challenge: fostering a sense of camaraderie in a hybrid work environment.

This article equips you with effective strategies to bridge the physical gap and build a strong, connected team, ensuring a smooth transition and continued success.

Prioritising Mental Wellbeing and Camaraderie

While the novelty of remote work might fade, anxieties about safety and social interaction can arise for both returning and home-based employees. Don’t underestimate the importance of mental wellbeing.

Remember the initial concerns you had about keeping your team connected and maintaining camaraderie. Now’s the time to revisit those concerns and implement strategies to:

• Combat isolation: A team that feels isolated is a team with dwindling motivation. Regular video meetings via Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, or Facetime are essential. But remember, interaction is key. Encourage participation by everyone, giving each team member a chance to be heard and fostering a sense of togetherness.
• Establish routines: While some businesses might not have the flexibility for set schedules, creating a framework for the workday benefits remote employees. Provide clear start and finish times, with designated breaks to encourage a healthy work-life balance. Discourage late nights – a burnt-out team is an unproductive team.
• Celebrate achievements: The satisfaction of achieving a goal together is a powerful motivator. Replicate this feeling virtually. Remind your team of your company’s core values and encourage them to share their daily accomplishments, challenges, and plans. This fosters collaboration and a sense of shared purpose.

Maintaining Connection Through Play

A strong company culture extends beyond work. Here’s how to keep the social connection alive in a remote setting:

• Virtual water cooler moments: The casual chats by the physical water cooler are missed in a remote environment. Facilitate virtual interactions using apps like Tandem.chat or group chats on WhatsApp. Encourage team members to schedule online game breaks, playing Scrabble on Facebook or Lexulous, or even online Uno.
• Remote team socials: Remote workers might avoid the Friday night drinks or curry nights, but virtual alternatives exist. Consider hosting a virtual cooking and wine evening. Team members can take turns demonstrating their favourite recipes and drink pairings, fostering a fun and interactive experience.
• Remote fitness challenges: Encourage team bonding and physical activity with fitness challenges. Team members can participate in individual workouts at their local parks, sharing photos or videos on a group chat. Walking challenges with real-time chats about their surroundings add a personal touch.

Bridging the Gap: Combining Work and Play

• Team training: Invest in team training, even if it’s not directly job-specific. This promotes camaraderie and upskills everyone. Use video conferencing for interactive training sessions. Consider including non-work-related training or having team members present on their roles, fostering a deeper understanding of different departments and building empathy.
• Virtual team-building activities: Why not get creative with virtual alternatives to traditional away days?Organise online fishing competitions at local catch-and-return lakes or host virtual go-karting races. Recreate a day at the races with team members dressing up and placing bets on televised races.

Prioritise Wellbeing, Reap the Rewards

By prioritising team wellbeing and fostering camaraderie through these strategies, you’ll create a thriving remote team environment. A connected and motivated team is a productive team, leading to increased success for your business.

Have you implemented any successful strategies to build remote team camaraderie? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below.

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