Cultivating Team Spirit in the Virtual Workspace: Strategies for Virtual Work Connection
Last year taught us many lessons about virtual work. Among them that there’s magic in the mundane details of life, that time with loved ones shouldn’t be taken for granted, and that connectivity is more than a strong internet signal. In the virtual workplace, in addition to staying connected with WiFi and functioning chat apps, employees have a need to connect emotionally. Being emotionally connected to the work, peers, to the company and its leaders is more important than ever as physical closeness has been a near impossibility.
While some workplaces will go back to a full-time in-person environment, Upwork estimates that more than 26 percent of the American workforce will be working remotely through 2021. They also estimate that 22 percent of the workforce will work remotely by 2025. If this holds, ensuring there are opportunities for emotional connection, despite physical distance in virtual work, will be of continued importance.
I recently joined the team at The Harbinger Group and am impressed with how much Eileen and the team does to maintain a sense of community with an all-remote team. From examples at The Harbinger Group and past experiences, here are a few things employers can do to ensure an engaged workforce, no matter the proximity to an office headquarters.
5 Easy Ways to Nurture Connection in a Virtual Workplace
Create an outlet for kudos
In the virtual workspace, establishing a dedicated channel for employee recognition is crucial. This can be achieved through:
- A custom Slack channel for peer-to-peer appreciation
- Implementing recognition software that allows employees to acknowledge each other’s contributions
- Utilizing social media platforms like Instagram for real-time public recognition
These digital outlets not only boost morale but also significantly impact employee retention. As Gallup reports, employees who feel underappreciated are twice as likely to consider leaving within a year.
Make team meetings count
Remember when you’d sit in a team meeting where the topic focused mostly on what everyone did on the weekend and not the project you met to discuss? Yeah, me neither. While time has always been precious, the remote work environment has shone a light on what meetings are necessary and what can be done over email or other chosen channel. When deciding the best mode, one factor to consider is whether the topic is emotional. If teammates are emotionally tied to the topic, email runs the risk of being misinterpreted. This Forbes article offers three other guideposts for determining if your topic warrants a meeting or if email is sufficient.
Empowering Employee Voice in Virtual Work Environments: Creating Meaningful Channels for Team Input
Fulfilled employees feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves and that their work is making a difference. Making sure there are opportunities for employees to provide input will result in more fulfilled employees and procedures that are more logical to those doing the work. Consider reinforcing an open office policy during team meetings or creating a virtual suggestion box where no topic is off limits.
Don’t minimize the importance of free food
When working remotely, gone are the days of free food leftover from client meetings in the company meeting areas or working lunches where the company foots the bill. From an employee perspective, food is a powerful motivator and another tool to ensure employees feel valued and appreciated. Despite having a fully remote team, The Harbinger Group has free lunch Friday once a month where employees receive a gift card to a food delivery service to spend as they choose. It’s one of those small gestures that go the distance to make employees feel appreciated.
Recognize anniversaries and other meaningful days
Shortly before I joined The Harbinger Group team, a package that included a welcome note and branded coffee tumbler arrived at my house. It was so nice to be thought of and was another sign that I was landing with a team that valued me as a person and as an employee. Even with a virtual team, finding ways to recognize anniversaries, birthdays, and professional achievements will give employees the warm and fuzzies. As companies navigate their post-pandemic workplace, I encourage you to listen to the first episode of Eileen’s new podcast series titled, “Can You Hear Me?” The episode examines how companies are handling the transition and implications for talent retention, productivity, and employee satisfaction.