5 Ways to Develop Company Culture in a Remote Workplace

Company culture is one of the most important things people consider when searching for a new job -- including a remote position.

Have you noticed that the culture has changed among your employees since you all started working remotely? If you and your team are struggling to connect to the company’s values, it’s time to make some changes.

The importance of an organization’s culture is discussed below, along with information on how remote work influences it (for better or worse). You’ll also find five practical tips on developing a stronger remote workplace culture.

Why Company Culture Matters

Job seekers care so much about company culture because it can make or break their work experience. The following are some of the top reasons why company culture matters and why it should be a priority for all business leaders:

Increased Employee Engagement

Company culture and employee engagement are strongly connected. When employees feel supported, appreciated, and as though they’re working toward something bigger than themselves, they’re more focused and dedicated to their jobs.

Improved Employee Performance

Focused and dedicated employees, naturally, tend to perform better than disengaged employees who are watching the clock and waiting until they can punch out for the day. 

Increased Alignment

When different teams and departments are aligned and working toward the same goals, everyone performs better, and the entire company becomes more productive and profitable.

If a company has a strong and well-defined culture, it’s easier to foster this alignment and achieve better outcomes.

Improved Recruitment Efforts

Remember the point made above about job seekers prioritizing company culture? When you make it a priority, it becomes easier to recruit top-tier talent.

People want to work for companies that care about their employees and foster a sense of purpose. They may even be willing to accept a lower salary in exchange for these things.

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How Remote Work Influences Company Culture

Creating a strong company culture can be difficult for any business, whether its employees are colocated, hybrid, or remote. However, working from home presents some unique culture-related challenges, including these:

Presents Learning Challenges

When everyone works from home, asking questions or clarifying potentially confusing points can be more difficult.

After all, you can’t just pop over to someone’s desk to check on something. Instead, you have to send an instant message or email and wait for them to reply (and, sometimes, they’re so bogged down with messages that they don’t even see yours.

Because of these communications challenges, it may take longer for some employees to understand certain concepts or learn how to handle specific processes. As a result, it will be a while before they’re able to be productive contributors.

Fosters Feelings of Isolation 

Full-time remote work can increase loneliness by 67 percent. The risk of these feelings is especially high for employees who live alone and don’t have a partner or kids to connect with when the workday ends.

If a company doesn’t have a solid culture, the chances of employees experiencing loneliness go up -- especially if they also face communication difficulties. 

Interferes with Enthusiasm

When employees can’t learn from or communicate with each other effectively, and they feel lonely while working remotely, it’s unlikely they will feel very enthusiastic about their jobs. A lack of enthusiasm can eventually turn into a lack of engagement, which reduces productivity and overall morale. 

5 Ways to Develop Company Culture in a Remote Workspace

Do any of the challenges listed above sound familiar to you? If so, your remote company culture could be suffering -- which could be impacting your company’s overall success.

Listed below are five simple and effective strategies you can implement to develop a stronger company culture while working remotely:

1. Provide Regular Culture Reminders

One of the first steps to fostering a healthy and supportive company culture is to provide regular reminders about what the business prioritizes and its values, mission, etc.

Make sure people know from Day One what the company believes in and the kind of culture you want to create -- and remind them often.

Find ways to incorporate the business’s mission and values into everyday activities and correspondence as well. For example, tie specific projects back to the company’s values during meetings and explain why they’re essential. 

2. Create a Safe Virtual Space

When you commit to establishing a safe virtual safe for your employees, they will feel more confident speaking up, sharing their thoughts, and communicating with their colleagues. How can you create a virtual safe space? 

Start by encouraging everyone to participate in meetings and discussions. Practice a “no bad ideas” approach and strive to ensure everyone feels supported and included. It’s also important to encourage people to take risks and remind them that it’s okay to make mistakes.

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3. Establish Clear Communication Practices and Standards

You can combat many of the communication and learning issues associated with remote work by establishing transparent communication practices and standards.

For example, clarify which channels people should use for specific types of conversations, such as sending chat messages for quick questions but emails for more detailed discussions.

4. Make Room in the Schedule for Regular Check-ins

Check-in regularly with your team members, both as a group and as individuals. These check-ins give you a chance to find out how people are doing, what issues they’re struggling with, and what you can do to help.

Be sure to remind employees during these check-ins that they’re allowed to provide feedback without fear of retribution. When possible, act on their feedback, too, so they know their thoughts and concerns are actually taken seriously. 

5. Lead by Example

It is one of a CEO’s responsibilities (as well as the responsibility of other company leaders) to lead by example and exhibit the business’s values in all that they do.

If you embody the company’s values and strive to create a positive and uplifting culture, your efforts will trickle down throughout the organization and benefit everyone.

Closing Thoughts

Working remotely presents many benefits, but it can also come with unique challenges -- especially regarding company culture. If you’re concerned about your team’s engagement, productivity, or performance, prioritizing a strong remote workplace culture could make a big difference.

Start with the five strategies discussed above to begin making positive changes for the business and your employees. Check out HR Cloud’s employee engagement software, Workmates, as well to simplify communication, boost motivation, and achieve greater results. 

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Author Bio:

Jeremy Smith has a stellar track record of helping businesses grow in the digital space. If sales or team building are your core concerns right now, Jeremy is your guy.Want to get 45 minutes on his calendar? Apply for a free growth session with Jeremy here.