It’s no secret to anyone that today most people work from home, either as remote workers for a company or offering their services independently as freelancers.
The thing in question is the same: office work is increasingly overtaken by work from home, and because of this, leaders and entrepreneurs are faced with a problem that previously had not seemed important enough to, take into account.
How do you create a strong work culture when all your employees are working from home? How can the dispersion of values, goals, and proposals be avoided when the physical component to which we were so accustomed is lost?
Well, keep reading and we will tell you how you can do so that your company has a better remote work culture and thus guarantee an increase in productivity and commitment of your employees.
As always, before we start, we must know for sure what we are talking about, to understand the importance of discussing it. So, let’s talk about concepts.
What Is A Remote Work Culture?
It’s a combination of values, beliefs, behaviors, attitudes, and habits shared by the members of a company. We can see it reflected in how people interact and treat each other, in the way they work, individually or coming together as a team, to achieve a common goal. It is also based on the care you take (or not) about the mental health of the employees and their comfort in the work environment.
Taking it to the remote work plane, it is nothing more than the application of this culture despite the circumstances, the physical distance, and the adversities that this may represent. It’s overcoming that and ensuring that the same values, beliefs, habits, and care are executed regardless of the situation.
Forbes magazine studies have brought to light that remote workers are currently not only more productive but also happier. However, for this to be this way it’s important to also take other elements into account: organization and time management, healthy limits, and work culture.
Are you interested in your company having a better remote work culture? We will show you how, starting with some of the smaller (and thus often overlooked) aspects, and going to the most crucial ones.
5. Talent Diversity
One point in favor that remote work undoubtedly has is that it allows you to hire people from many parts of the world, with different backgrounds, beliefs, and skills, thus resulting in human wealth for the team. Focusing on inclusion and diversity in the work team and fostering the individuality and self-awareness of each of the employees makes them feel more comfortable being part of it.
Giving the importance they deserve to the differences, particularities, and diversities that employees have is tremendously beneficial, since not only will each person bring valuable knowledge to the culture of the company, but you will also have a team of confident individuals, comfortable in a respectful and supportive environment, who will strive to give their all to maximize productivity.
It’s already proven: happy employees, successful company.
4. Feedback
In any group activity, the well-being of all the parties involved is the most important thing to ensure true success, and what better way to be aware of the positions of other people than, asking them directly?
Or maybe not go person to person asking everything, but build the habit of feedback in all corners of the company, and create channels that remain open for the correct communication of any concern, suggestion, or correction that you want to make.
You learn more from mistakes than from anything else, and employees have much more to contribute than just the service they are providing, and the team should try to remain open to constructive criticism and evaluations that are made. Communication must be two-way, honest, and respectful.
This brings us to the next point…
3. Core-Values
If a company is not clear about its values, it’s a lot like a person who does not know their personality. It’s necessary to reinforce the values of the company and pour them into all the members of the team, to put them into practice within the work culture, despite being remote.
For example, if one of your company’s core values is punctuality, all team members should meet their schedules and responsibilities on time, delivering results effectively.
If one of the core values of your company is to be service-oriented, then the mentality, mission, and vision of the team must be focused on serving customers, consumers of the product they sell, or whatever the case, to serve, to satisfy a need.
Core values are the backbone of the work culture, remote or not.
2. Realistic Goals
One of the functions of having a good remote work culture is undoubtedly keeping up with the company’s production rhythm, and if anything, improving it. However, you must never stop being objective and rational, and you must take into account all the circumstances and elements when drawing up a work plan.
If the team is not used to working remotely, then it will take them a while and maybe a couple of workshops to adjust to their full potential. It would not be healthy or beneficial for the work culture to overexert knowing this.
However, sometimes it takes a bit of pressure and firm push to help people do their best and discover their full potential and the great things they can achieve. Therefore, it’s necessary to include real objectives in the short and long-term goals and communicate them clearly and understandably to the team so that everyone is on the same page and goes to the same side.
1. Present Leadership
Earlier this month we talked about what it takes to be a good leader and how important it is for a team to be led properly, but this time we will talk about another important aspect of this role in a company’s remote work culture.
The figure of the leader in remote work must be visible and present. It’s crucial to assume the role responsibly, stay in contact with all the other members, and motivate them to actively communicate.
Through the example, the leader must communicate to all the members the purpose of the company, the established goals, the purpose of each one of them and their assigned tasks, and of course, delegate tasks so that the distribution of weight and responsibility is more equitable.
By taking these steps you should be beginning to foster a healthier and more productive remote work culture, optimizing your company’s performance and your employees’ engagement despite physical distance. Do you want to learn more about this? Take a look at our videos to find out more about remote workers and freelancers.
See more articles by Andrea Corona
