What do you do if your remote team is struggling to stay connected and motivated?

Working remotely can have many benefits, such as flexibility, autonomy, and cost savings. But it can also pose some challenges, such as isolation, communication gaps, and lack of motivation. If you are a team leader, you might be wondering how to keep your remote team connected and engaged, especially during these uncertain times. Here are some tips to help you foster a positive and productive remote team culture.

1 Set clear and realistic goals

One of the keys to successful remote work is having clear and realistic goals for your team and each individual. This helps everyone to know what is expected of them, how to prioritize their tasks, and how to measure their progress. You can use tools like SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) or OKR (Objectives and Key Results) to define and communicate your goals. Make sure to align your goals with your organization's vision and values, and to review them regularly with your team.

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Sam Harvey

Working with CEOs to achieve their growth aspirations with a connected, high-functioning leadership team 🎯 Founder of Braver Leaders Team Performance 🤓 International Speaker & Podcast Host 🎙️
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Is your team aligned with one another? Or are they being too narrow-minded? It's important to have clear goals throughout the company and allow everyone to do their part to achieve the goals. Be realistic when setting goals - if it's too hard to reach, that will only demotivate your team even more.

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Eva Steortz

Senior Global Marketing Leader | Chief Motivation Officer | ICF Certified Executive Coach | Leadership Development | xDisney | Brand Strategy | Business Development | Licensing | Toys | Published Author | Dreamer+Doer
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As a leader you likely have a lot of ideas: more structured team meetings, new technology solutions, incentive programs, setting stretch goals with recognition opportunities etc. However, the best course of action, is ask the team what they need to feel more connected and motivated. Simple as that. Ask them and listen.

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2 Communicate frequently and effectively

Another essential factor for remote team collaboration is communication. You need to communicate frequently and effectively with your team, using different channels and formats. For example, you can use email or chat for quick updates, video calls for meetings or brainstorming sessions, and shared documents or platforms for feedback or collaboration. You should also establish some communication norms and etiquette, such as when to use which channel, how to respond to messages, and how to avoid distractions or interruptions.

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Sam Harvey

Working with CEOs to achieve their growth aspirations with a connected, high-functioning leadership team 🎯 Founder of Braver Leaders Team Performance 🤓 International Speaker & Podcast Host 🎙️
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When your team is remote, communication is one of the most important things you should be getting right. Have a consistent check-in time (whether that's daily, weekly, or monthly.. whatever works best for your company).

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3 Build trust and rapport

Working remotely can make it harder to build trust and rapport with your team members, especially if you don't see them face-to-face often. However, trust and rapport are vital for teamwork, as they foster a sense of belonging, support, and accountability. To build trust and rapport with your remote team, you can try some of these strategies: share personal stories or interests, celebrate achievements or milestones, give recognition or praise, ask for feedback or input, and show empathy or compassion.

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4 Encourage learning and development

One of the benefits of remote work is that it can offer more opportunities for learning and development. You can encourage your team to learn new skills, explore new ideas, or take on new challenges. This can help them to grow professionally and personally, as well as to stay motivated and engaged. You can support your team's learning and development by providing them with resources, tools, or courses, creating a learning plan or agenda, or creating a learning community or network.

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5 Promote well-being and balance

Working remotely can also have some drawbacks, such as stress, burnout, or loneliness. You need to promote your team's well-being and balance, by helping them to manage their workload, time, and energy. You can do this by setting healthy boundaries and expectations, encouraging breaks and rest, offering flexibility and autonomy, and providing support and resources. You should also model well-being and balance yourself, by taking care of your own physical, mental, and emotional health.

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Buket B.

🏅10X Top LinkedIn Voice Badges | Head of Marketing | Brand Builder | FinTech & Blockchain Expert | Crypto Enthusiast | +9K
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Virtual Meetings: Keep the team connected with weekly or daily brief meetings. Flexible Working Hours: Support work-life balance by allowing employees to set their own schedules. Virtual Social Events: Facilitate personal connections among team members with online social activities. Open Communication Policy: Create an environment where everyone can easily share their thoughts and concerns. Individual Follow-Up and Feedback: Provide regular feedback and support for employees’ career goals and personal development. Wellness Resources: Offer resources and workshops on meditation, exercise, and healthy eating to support physical and mental health.

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6 Have fun and socialize

Finally, working remotely doesn't mean you can't have fun and socialize with your team. In fact, having fun and socializing can boost your team's morale, creativity, and cohesion. You can create some opportunities for fun and socializing with your team, such as virtual coffee breaks, games, quizzes, or happy hours, or online events, activities, or clubs. You can also use some icebreakers, jokes, or memes to lighten up the mood and spark some conversations.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What do you do if your remote team is struggling to stay connected and motivated?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Set clear and realistic goals

2 Communicate frequently and effectively

3 Build trust and rapport

4 Encourage learning and development

5 Promote well-being and balance

6 Have fun and socialize

7 Here’s what else to consider

Team Leadership

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What do you do if your remote team is struggling to stay connected and motivated?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Set clear and realistic goals

2 Communicate frequently and effectively

3 Build trust and rapport

4 Encourage learning and development

5 Promote well-being and balance

6 Have fun and socialize

7 Here’s what else to consider

Team Leadership

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