Bringing Staff Together in a Pandemic

When COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were first imposed, the majority of people were unable to go to their usual workplace. Instead, millions of people embraced remote working and set up makeshift offices at home. Although most workplaces are now re-opening, a significant number of employers are continuing to operate with a distributed workforce.

Working from home offers numerous benefits to both employers and employees. From a better work/life balance to reduced business costs, there are endless reasons to embrace remote working. However, managers and supervisors will need to modify their strategies in order to manage a distributed team effectively.

One of the trickiest aspects of managing a remote workforce is making sure that every employee feels like a valued member of your team. Fortunately, there are easy ways to facilitate team cohesion and unite your remote workforce, including:

Hold one-to-one meetings

Virtual meetings make it easy to discuss matters confidentially, so use them to build trust with employees.

When your staff are based in one location, it’s easy for an employee to request a private meeting with you. If people are working remotely, however, employees may feel more hesitant about asking for a one-to-one meeting. Ensure your staff know that you’re always happy to address any concerns or queries they may have. A regular one-to-one meeting schedule will ensure that your staff feel cared about and valued, regardless of their job title or location.

2. Host virtual events

A virtual photo booth is a great icebreaker, for example, and will help employees to enjoy virtual events. By incorporating something new into your events, you can ensure they’re always enjoyed by staff.

Many people have missed the social aspect of work whilst they’ve been working from home in lockdown. Just because people are working remotely, you don’t need to abandon your company social events. From online cocktail parties to virtual lunchbreaks, there are a multitude of ways to facilitate social engagements.

As we adjust to a ‘new normal’, people are still becoming accustomed to online social events. Help employees feel more relaxed at your virtual party by adding something fun into the mix.

3. Use collaboration tools

Fortunately, there are a variety of tools and programs that are designed to make collaboration easier.

When staff are giving joint goals or are assigned to work on projects together, it helps to create a sense of camaraderie. Of course, staff won’t be able to work together in quite the same way when they’re based at home.

No matter what industry you operate in or what type of projects your staff are working on, there will be customisable software to suit your needs. By giving employees access to the tools they need to thrive, you’ll see just how productive a remote workforce can be.

Build Strong Virtual Teams

The COVID-19 outbreak has had a major impact on the way we work and the trend for home working is likely to continue into the future. With this in mind, you can get a step ahead by nurturing remote teams now and building a strong remote workforce.