Help Your Team Feel Like They're Still in the Office
Even when it’s necessary to work remotely, you can help your team feel like they’re still in the office. We’ve put together some simple strategies to facilitate a professional environment, even if everyone is working from their respective homes.
Use Video Conferencing
There are all kinds of software programs designed to keep remote teams in touch. Some are chat-only, while others incorporate video conferencing. There are benefits to meeting with the team on video chat. It helps foster a team environment by allowing everyone to talk face-to-face. Also, holding regular video chat meetings helps create the feeling of being in the office.
Try to keep things consistent by holding a meeting at the same time every week. If you have a large team or need to hold separate meetings, schedule them throughout the week at times that are most convenient for the majority of employees. Make sure to send out a reminder the day before each meeting; you might also want to send a reminder 30 minutes before meetings are scheduled to start.
Encourage Staff to Wear Work Apparel
Although everyone’s working from home, it’s still important to look the part. Provide your employees with custom company work t-shirts, which are comfortable yet professional. They can be worn with almost any kind of bottoms for a business-casual look, such as jeans or chino pants. If a t-shirt is a little too casual for your taste, you can outfit your team in embroidered polo shirts for a more professional look that’s still comfortable.
Other work apparel that you may want to provide your team with include custom logo jackets or hoodies, especially in the fall or winter. You might even want to include custom company coffee mugs in the package as a small gift of appreciation.
Provide Home Office Tips
A properly furnished workspace is important when it comes to feeling like you’re still in the office. Send your team some tips for setting up their home office—there are lots of articles online that you can share on the subject. Emphasize the importance of ergonomics to reduce strain and improve the comfort level. You might even want to send your staff some office supplies, such as a notepad with your company logo on it. When an employee sees the company logo on the paper they’re using to take notes, they’re more likely to feel like they’re in the office.
Even if your staff doesn’t use the home office tips you send, doing so still lets them know that you appreciate them and think of their comfort. The most important aspect when setting up a home workspace—besides ergonomics—is that the person working is comfortable and doesn’t have a lot of distractions. For some, that might be in a traditional home office. For others, it might be the kitchen table.
Express Expectations Clearly
When the office environment changes from regular to remote, it’s a good idea to revisit employee expectations and provide clear guidelines. Make sure everyone on your team is clear regarding their individual and shared duties, including any important deadlines. If there are new rules that apply to working remotely, post them on your work chat space as a pinned message.
In addition to clearly communicating what’s expected from your team, ask them what they expect from you as a remote supervisor. Keeping the lines of communication open is important when it comes to creating a close-knit office environment remotely.
Try Team-Building Activities
There are all kinds of virtual team-building activities that you can do with your staff. These activities help co-workers learn to work together, plus they’re a lot of fun. A quick online search will lead you to all kinds of online activities for corporate teams to do together. They include multiplayer games, scavenger hunts, and even virtual escape rooms. If you decide to do a team-building activity that’s competitive, award small prizes to the winner, like a set of customized pens.
If you’re not sure which team-building activity everyone would prefer, bring it up at one of your team meetings. You may even want to provide your team with a list of activity options and let them vote. Or ask for suggestions and see what comes up.
Ask for Input
When helping your team feel like they’re still in the office when working remotely, one of the best things you can do is ask for their input. Your employees may have suggestions about creating a positive work environment and fostering a professional office environment from home.
There are lots of ways to help everyone feel good about working from home. With these strategies and any others you come up with, both you and your employees can enjoy greater productivity and a positive remote work environment.