Have you ever worked from home and felt like you were all alone in your office? It's easy to feel disconnected from your colleagues when you're not in the same physical space. But, there are ways to build connections with your remote team members and create a more collaborative work environment. Here are a few tips for getting started:
1. Establish a routine for communicating with your colleagues
In any work environment, communication is key. Whether you're relaying important information to your team or simply catching up on the latest office gossip, staying in touch with your colleagues is essential to maintaining a cohesive and productive work environment.
However, maintaining regular communication can be difficult, especially if you have a busy schedule. That's why many guides on remote working say how important it is to establish a routine for communicating with your colleagues. Whether it's scheduling regular check-ins or sending out weekly updates, setting aside time to touch base with your team will help to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
Furthermore, setting up a system of regular communication will help to build trust and foster a sense of camaraderie among your co-workers. In short, making time for regular communication is an essential part of being a good colleague – whether you’re remote or not.
2. Use video chat to see their facial expressions and body language
Use video conferencing tools like Skype or Google Hangouts to have face-to-face conversations with your colleagues. This is a great way to get to know them better and stay updated on what's going on with everyone.
Perhaps most importantly, video chat allows team members to interact in real time, fostering a strong sense of connection and collaboration. For remote workers who spend much of their day working independently, having the opportunity to visually connect with colleagues is vital for maintaining their motivation and engagement. After all, body language is a huge part of how we communicate.
Additionally, using video chat can make meetings more efficient, as it helps to eliminate miscommunication issues that are so common when communicating via text or voice alone. It also allows collaborators from different locations to demonstrate their expertise, supporting knowledge transfer across teams and enhancing cross-functional understanding.
3. Send them articles or other content that you think they would find interesting
When you are working remotely, it can be easy to get stuck in a rut and to fall behind on industry news or the latest trends. This is especially true if you are not part of an official team, but instead are working independently on a project. In order to keep your skills sharp and stay up-to-date with what's happening in your field, it's important to reach out to your remote colleagues and share interesting articles, research papers, podcasts, or anything else that might be relevant or useful for them.
By sending your colleagues content that interests you, you have the opportunity to spark conversations about emerging technologies or ideas. You may also learn from their perspectives and gain new insights into topics outside of your area of expertise. Additionally, staying connected with other professionals helps build relationships that can ultimately benefit your career down the road.
So why not take a moment today to search for something interesting online and share it with your remote colleagues? Your thoughtful gesture may just help improve the quality of everyone's work while making those long stretches spent at home a little more enjoyable.
4. Ask them questions about their work, personal life, or hobbies
Asking questions is a key part of building relationships, whether they be professional or personal. When we take the time to ask others about their work, their lives, and their hobbies, we show that we care about them as individuals. This can be especially important when we're working remotely, as we can't always pick up on social cues in the same way. By asking different questions, we can get to know our colleagues better and build stronger working relationships. And who knows, we might even learn something new.
5. Thank them for their contributions, even if they're small
One way to overcome the challenges of remote work is to make sure you take the time to thank your colleagues for their contributions, even if they're small. A simple "thank you" can go a long way in making someone feel appreciated and valued. It also helps to build a strong sense of team spirit, which can be essential for success in a remote work environment. So next time one of your remote colleagues goes above and beyond, be sure to let them know how much you appreciate their efforts.
In today's workplace, more and more people are working remotely. While this has many benefits, it can also be challenging to build team morale when everyone is not in the same physical location. By following these tips, you can start to build better connections with your team.
Thanks to John Bramer at 6xdegree Media for writing this article!