10 Actionable Strategies to Boost and Keep High Remote Team Morale

Focusing on morale for remote employees is crucial and will pay off for leaders who want to manage a successful remote team. You might fear that lack of in-person interaction and isolation could poorly reflect employee engagement for remote workers without the office-culture setting most are used to.

But the good news is that studies have shown a massive increase in productivity from working in a remote setting even before the pandemic. CoSo Cloud are experts in global eLearning solutions, and their survey reported that 77% of remote workers felt they were more productive working remotely and 52% less likely to call out. This gives team leaders the advantage to strategize ways to effectively strengthen the work dynamic they strive for, potentially generating tighter-knit collaborative company values.

Morale is the core of efficiency and production. Establishing a foundation for remote workers to communicate for optimal joint effort will elevate the enthusiasm and drive of those who keep your company growing.

The impact of positive morale for remote employees is simple: the higher the morale, the greater the possibilities of higher-quality remote work.

Without encouraging the esteem and optimism of your remote staff, you’re doomed to stunt your growth. Communication issues lead to leadership and management defects, which cause remote employees to feel underappreciated. Without praise to connect a sense of pride in their work, you’ll generate dishonest, unmotivated staff who do not feel dedicated to their position.

Fear not! We’ve got ten actionable strategies to boost and keep high remote team morale.

Communicate and Stay Connected

Regular group check-ins for open communication with your remote teams will enhance their confidence to do their job successfully because when you care, they care. Address their issues, create a safe space for them to discuss their stressors, and be proactive in providing support to those who may need it.

If you don’t already make time for meetings with your remote team members individually, consider how carving time to stay in touch with them may make them feel heard. Sometimes prioritizing their wellness for just 10-15 minutes is enough.

Set Clear Expectations

Reiterate your company's values and mission, relaying the messages of your goals and how integral your remote employees are to achieving them. You want them to feel connected to the work they’re doing. Be sure you’re hiring adaptable people to change and work well to self-motivate under these conditions.

Tina Hawk, SVP Human Resources at GoodHire, states that remote work comes with its benefits and limitations for an employee. Feeling a bit distant from the team members is common, but employers should set their expectations clearly from the start.

Ask Employees What They Need

Your employee wellness matters to you, but you face challenges in your management duties. If you want a positive virtual work environment, give them a voice by encouraging and validating their insight. Ask them.

The more you can meet their needs, the more willing they are to meet yours. To be a good leader, you must put remote employees front and center for their feedback, as a part of your company culture.

Offer Opportunities for Growth

Providing the type of resources that model the growth you want to see is the best way to activate it amongst your remote team members. Otherwise, your remote employees will feel stagnant working in a more isolated setting where they fear they won’t have room to promote themselves and seek career expansion.

Consider constructing a development course plan that shows you want to invest in their growth and help continue their learning. You could consider hiring niche experts, coaches, and speakers to engage with your staff.

Respect Private Time

A flexible schedule is an asset to everyone, but flexibility does not mean “always available.” No employee wants to feel like they’re always accountable to their management because there are no office hours.

Set boundaries with your team members by creating an organized, accessible schedule that lists the desired tasks with deadlines and requirements. Make your company culture work for the benefits of your remployees.

Kyle Risle, Founder and CEO of Lift Vault, says, “Just because your employees work remotely does not mean they should be available for urgent tasks round the clock.” While it’s okay to vocalize that emergencies may arise, respecting their time otherwise shows that you value mutual respect between management and team members.

Dedicate Time to Gratitude

Humans are naturally social beings, gravitating toward situations where they can work together to make things happen. Nurture that by incentivizing your remote teams to come together to build a connection and collaborate on work efforts. If you want a motivating company culture, induce morale through team-building.

You can support employee motivation by getting them involved with each other to achieve the bigger picture of your company’s goals. Consider a group chat or virtual workspace to connect on relevant topics.

Encourage Collaboration

Let Loose Sometimes

It’s essential to take breaks, laugh, and allow for downtime. Consider a virtual breakroom, a chance to be themselves amongst their colleagues, and mingle in a communal atmosphere. This could be a 10-minute coffee talk or a quick little game in-between tasks.

It’s possible to let your staff see a bit of who you are outside the confines of a management role while still practicing ethical standards, and it’s okay to engage with them about everyday life. Humanizing yourself allows them to feel more comfortable with you.

Plan Events and Physical Meetups

According to Tim White, Founder of Milepro, no amount of virtual gaming sessions, training webinars, and virtual, cultural activities can replace the energy of a physical meetup. While this is not possible for all company dynamics, personal interaction is beneficial to boosting morale. It gives your remote teams something to look forward to and a means of connecting with their colleagues more interpersonally.

This could look like a group dinner or an in-person team-building activity that does not have to do with work but instills your company's core values.

Share the Highs and Lows

Discussing your highs and lows with a team members reinforces your bond too. Honesty builds trust, which boosts overall morale while opening a space for them to speak up on their issues. Your staff wants to know about company issues and updates, which will only ensure that problems get resolved quickly and avoid any future miscommunication between your team members and you. One of the best ways to share company updates is via email- sending regular emails to your remote employees is a great alternative to time-consuming meetings.

Promote Diversity

Culture inclusivity is where innovative thoughts and new ideas are found. When diverse perspectives come together, there is a grander scope of learning and development to support goals and tasks.

When you advocate for an environment that includes people with various skillsets and ideals, you broaden the horizons for the type of objectives your remote teams can go after. It allows them to be exposed to fresh outlooks that will help them evolve their viewpoints and the assets they bring to your company. It’s also an essential way to bring people together.

Prioritize uplifting the spirits of your remote team and know that these efforts are ongoing. Some may require tweaking over time with effective communication and company expansion, which is good. By utilizing these strategies, the foundation is already laid out for you.

About Author: This article is written by our marketing team at HR Cloud. HR Cloud is dedicated to providing powerful solutions for your HR teams and creating an exceptional employee experience. Our aim is to help your company improve employee engagement, onboarding, and to save you valuable time!