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Building (and Fostering) Connections on a Remote Team

Planned and regular communication is key to engaging remote employees so they feel connected and part of the team.


What do employees need to be happy and productive while working remotely? The needs change with individuals and organizations, but the simple answer is they need to feel included and connected to co-workers, as well as confident in their position.


According to Forbes, “86% of individuals attribute workplace failures to poor collaboration.”

To help with this, many employers have started building in daily practices of connection to help employees feel included and connected to their coworkers, and in turn more connected to their work.

Read on for some ways you can foster connection in your remote team.


Studies show one of the biggest drawbacks to remote work is loneliness. A 2020 study from the UBC Sauder School of Business shows that feeling ignored at work is worse for physical and mental well-being than workplace bullying.


1 - Build in daily practices to encourage connection

As a manager, it’s imperative that you build in regular opportunities for employees to share updates and communicate about work projects, but also share details about their lives outside of the office.

When you hold a meeting, it's helpful to allow time for small talk and encourage people to share what they’ve been doing outside of work before discussing the topics at hand. It’s a good idea to step out of the room so the employees can feel free to share without worrying about what they say in front of their manager. This can last just 5 or 10 minutes, but it makes a big difference in helping employees get to know each other and feel connected.


Outside of meetings – reach out! If you haven’t spoken to one of your employees one-on-one in the past week, send a quick email or ask for a quick call to check in with them.


2 - Set a time to meet outside the office

Fostering connections outside the office is another great way for employers to build trust and loyalty among teams. Schedule regular meet-ups for coffee or drinks, or make a plan for your team to engage in fun and interactive activities like outdoor games or trivia night.


Getting your employees talking and interacting outside the office helps to strengthen collaboration at work. Building those connections also helps to alleviate any stress and loneliness your staff may be feeling.


If your remote employees are not close enough to the office to meet in person, you can host similar events online. A remote happy hour or morning coffee chat are great ways to get people talking and connecting. Or you could try a virtual game, like Remote Work Bingo or Scavenger Hunts. There are lots of resources for these online on websites like teambuilding.com.


Be sure to keep these regular meet ups light-hearted and fun and encourage folks to attend, but don’t require them show up. Team building activities are only useful when participants want to be there.



3 - Encourage collaboration in the work itself

Whether it's digital or physical, if the work your team is doing does not build in collaboration, then there will likely be some feelings of isolation from your employees. But collaborative teams don’t just happen. It takes a strategic approach to get everyone working together.


A team that can work together benefits the company, and your bottom line. A collaborative team is more productive and has better outcomes when everyone uses their strengths to support each other and solve problems as they arise. And a collaborative team is a loyal and efficient team. But building and fostering such a team takes careful and deliberate planning.


Creating connections with coworkers should be positive and not something that generates resentment or feels like additional unpaid work. Ask your employees for feedback and suggestions to make sure their needs are being met.


Team building is an ongoing process that requires intentional work from managers.


Create a collaborative culture. To do this, start by assessing your current culture. How well does your staff work together and what changes can you make to improve the collaborative process?


Practice team building. Team building is a great way to help workers form creative bonds. These exercises can be workplace icebreakers, online trivia games, group story building, or a virtual home tour. Communication and employee feedback is key to finding things that work for your team.


Establish a vision for your team. A clear vision helps create a unified experience and gives a common goal to work toward.


Set expectations. Working as part of a team doesn’t always come naturally. Make your expectations for collaboration clear and concise and communicate them often. This will reduce confusion among staff.


Encourage and reward innovation. A collaborative team is more successful when you encourage creative thinking and fresh ideas. Give your team space to innovate and let them know their ideas re appreciated and will be given consideration.


When you think of teamwork, it’s easy to see the group as a whole, but be sure to look at everyone individually as well. Every person has their strengths - and their weaknesses. As a manager, it’s helpful to recognize what an employee excels at, and what they need guidance with. Allowing your team members to take on new tasks or do the things they’re interested in will help increase job satisfaction.


Employees who are engaged with their work and generally like their coworkers often fall into collaborative patterns naturally. If they feel comfortable and connected in the workplace, they will be more inclined to collaborate and innovate with their fellow employees.


Connection is key. At the heart of every collaborative team is clear and effective communication. As an employer, its imperative you actively work to foster connections with – and within – your workforce. A strong, unified team will lead to a strong, long-lasting business. Building and fostering communication within your workforce is an ongoing, often arduous process, but one that is well worth the time and effort.



Working from home just one day can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2%, and two to four days cuts emissions by up to 29%. An entire week of remote work can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an impressive 54%. Source: National Academy of Sciences



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