Remote work is becoming increasingly popular in businesses across every industry. Companies are seeing that by allowing employees to work at home, they can save a significant amount of money from not having to rent out an office space, and employees can be just as or even more productive.
One of the main motivators employees need to be productive is to feel valued and cared about. If employees don’t feel this just yet, prioritizing the company culture can solve the problem.
What is Company Culture?
Company culture is a hot topic these days. In simple terms, company culture is the employee experience and what makes a company what it is. Company culture is made up of company goals, how employees are working to achieve them, work-life balance, common employee practices, and more. Employees spend a third of their time at work, so a positive, supportive and value-driven culture can keep them invested in their work and boost their performance.
According to Denison, companies with exceptional culture have 72% higher employee engagement than those with a weak culture. So creating and providing a positive company culture is non-negotiable for any business.
Culture is unique within each company. There is no catch-all solution for how to promote company culture because it is constantly evolving with the diverse individuals that are a part of it.
Company Culture in Remote Jobs
While companies working in office naturally develop part of their culture as employees interact, strong company culture for remote employees often has to be much more intentional. Remote workers miss out on casual conversations between team members, interactions with other departments, and face-face communications about team projects.
Remote workers can achieve this level of engagement that directly impacts culture, but it doesn’t come as effortlessly. Here are some of the best ways that you can promote a strong company culture among your remote employees.
Keep Company Goals Clear
One of the most effective ways to build a strong company culture is by aligning the employees’ goals with the company’s. When employees and employers are on the same page about what they’re working towards and why they’re working to achieve it, they will be more driven and find meaning in their work.
You may not be able to display the company goals, mission statements, and values throughout the workplace for remote workers to see, but throughout meetings you can show your employees how each project is bringing them towards the company goals.
Prioritize a Culture of Communication
Business operations are a big part of company culture, so you should ensure that projects are being carried out in the most efficient way possible. Make sure there is constant communication so that you can set a standard for how to do work.
To make the most of team collaboration in a remote environment, you may want to have a daily standup meeting so that everyone knows what each team member was able to accomplish and what their plan for the day is. This will make sure that everyone is aware of the progress of each project and who is involved in the next steps.
Find a Way for Employees to Engage in ‘Water Cooler Talk’
While opening communication channels about projects is important to culture, casual conversation or “water cooler talk” should also be prioritized. Employee relationships can be a significant part of your company culture because building relationships helps employees feel like they are real people and not a machine doing work.
Traditional office employees have a chance to connect with their coworkers on a regular basis and talk about topics other than work, so you should give remote employees that opportunity as well.
Schedule a time on a regular basis for a team lunch or a team-building activity to discuss non work subjects. This will build unity among your remote employees and encourage a culture that treats employees as people
Welcome New Hires
Employees will start to get a feel for company culture during the interview process, so by their first day on the job, the culture should be solidified. Help them recognize what they mean to the company automatically and what some of the common practices are.
Introduce them as you would in a physical office setting with an announcement email, giving others a chance to personally welcome them. Send them a new employee welcome package and show them that they are not only starting a new job, but stepping into an organization that values their well-being.
Businesses with remote employees can attain an inspired company culture just as well as a traditional business. Your employees can experience the benefits of work flexibility and an intentional company culture. Doing so will keep your employees happier than ever and provide an automatic boost in productivity.
