Remote Work Culture: Nurturing Connection in Your Teams

In the past few years, there has been a whole new landscape regarding where and how we work. Whether in the office, hybrid, or remote, everything looks different. This year, we have seen remote work decline from its levels during the pandemic, but estimates show that it is still three to four times as prevalent as it was in 2019.  

Forbes recently shared an interesting point of view on remote work culture: 

“Organizations will be, and should be, keeping tabs on employee productivity and performance in 2024 in relation to their return-to-office and flexible policies. Based on data, many may default to calling back their workers to the office to fix loopholes in engagement. However, the fact remains that returning to the office most likely won’t solve much. In fact, by the end of 2024, executives who thought RTO mandates would improve productivity will admit there’s more at play than location of workers. Meanwhile, those already offering location flexibility will dramatically outperform their competitors.” 

Thankfully, a lot of recent data is available to help provide insights into how remote work culture impacts teams and employees. Below are just a few of the highlights you may find interesting.

Data On How remote work culture impacts teams and employees

• Increased Productivity—A study by Stanford found that remote workers are 13% more productive than their in-office counterparts due to fewer distractions and more efficient time management. They also tend to work longer hours, with an increase of approximately 1.4 days per month compared to those who work in an office.  
• Work-Life Balance—Remote work has positively impacted work-life balance for many, with 77% of remote workers reporting greater flexibility and better balance between work and personal life.  
• Burnout—However, there is also an increase in burnout rates, with 69% of remote workers experiencing burnout symptoms, often due to the blurring of boundaries between work and home life.  
• Communication Challenges—20% of remote workers are finding communication and collaboration more challenging, leading to feelings of isolation and difficulties in team cohesion even with the increase in digital collaboration platforms like Teams, Slack, and Zoom 
• Job Satisfaction—Remote work has led to higher job satisfaction and a decrease in employee turnover for many employees, with 74% expressing that they would like to continue working remotely at least part-time, even after the pandemic. 
• Talent Pool Expansion—Remote work helps companies hire talent from a broader geographic area, increasing access to a diverse pool of candidates.

Brian Bloom, Korn Ferry’s vice president of global benefits and mobility operations, has shared that modifying their policies is how some companies attempt to respond to a constantly evolving work environment, one that is populated by five generations of workers, each with different priorities. But “no one has written the book on this just yet,” he says. 

How to Nurture Connection in Your Teams in a Remote Work Culture 

1. Communicate Frequently 

• Use smart and intentional messages with an expressive tone 
• Utilize available collaboration platforms and technology like Slack, Messenger, Google, Teams or Zoom 

2. Check-In Regularly 

• Communicate before the team even needs you 
• Give everyone the sense that you are present and can be counted on 

3. Build a Sense of Community 

• Participate in virtual team meetings, activities, or social time like coffee breaks 
• Share pictures of your current situation and decompress together 

4. Make Remote Meetings Masterful 

• Use your camera to let others see you while you speak, and pay attention 
• Share a meeting agenda so others can be prepared, and follow up with an email to ensure everyone is on the same page 

5. Recognize and Appreciate 

• Create a virtual space for co-workers to recognize each other, such as a Teams Channel or private Meta/Facebook group 
• Use weekly newsletter submissions, an active Miro Board, or a social media group 
• Set recognition goals and offer small rewards for achieving them 

6. Location Inclusion 

•  Avoid creating an "in" group and an "out" group 
•  Ensure remote team members feel included in meetings and activities 

By implementing these strategies, you can foster a strong sense of connection and community within your remote team.  You can learn even more in our blog about Best Practices for Effective Remote Team Communication. 

References 

1. Stanford Study on Remote Work Productivity
2. "The Effects of Remote Work on Employee Productivity" - Forbes
3. Buffer's State of Remote Work Report
4. "Burnout in the Age of Remote Work" - Harvard Business Review
5. "Remote Work Challenges" - SHRM
6. "Growth in Digital Collaboration Tools Usage" - TechCrunch
7. "Employee Satisfaction with Remote Work" - Gallup Poll
8. "Remote Work and Employee Retention" - Business Insider
9. "Cost Savings from Remote Work" - CNBC
10. "Expanding the Talent Pool with Remote Work" - The Wall Street Journal
11. "Mental Health Impacts of Remote Work" - Psychology Today