8 Tips To Manage the Morale of Your Remote Team
If your team is working remotely, it's important to keep their morale high. Great team morale can lead to better work performance and can help keep your team together despite the physical distance between them.
But how can you better support your remote workforce? What should you be doing as an employer to ensure that your team is happy and productive?
Here are eight expert tips to help you manage the morale of your remote team.
Maintain A Steady Rhythm Of Communication
One of the defining traits of successful modern management is effective, regular and open communication. This is especially important for remote teams, as they can easily lose touch with one another if not given the right tools.
Try to develop a regular communication rhythm, whether that means an instant messaging chat, daily check-ins, weekly video conferences, or some other cadence.
Not only will this help keep everyone on the same page and maintain morale, but it will also help prevent misunderstandings and ensure that any problems can be addressed quickly.
Schedule A 'Check-In' and 'Check-out' Daily
Utilising video conferencing solutions as part of your wider remote working infrastructure is key. Not only do they offer the ability for team members to see and speak to each other, but they also provide a sense of regularity which is important for remote teams.
By scheduling a 'check-in' and/or 'check-out' each day you can ensure that everyone has had an opportunity to catch up on what's been happening and that they're also aware of any deadlines or tasks which need completing.
These meetings can be short and sweet or can be used as an opportunity for team members to present their work and get feedback from their colleagues. That will depend on the individual needs of your company.
Some components of a great team meeting include:
- Purpose: Beginning with the question of why this meeting is happening can help to keep everyone on track.
- Agenda: Having an agenda posted in advance (or sent out in a meeting invite) ensures that everyone is aware of the topics which will be covered and can come prepared.
- Time-limit: Setting a time limit for each agenda item (or the whole meeting) can help to keep things running smoothly.
Accommodate For Diverse Teams
As the workforce becomes more and more diverse, remote working will become an increasingly important way to manage teams.
When managing a remote team, it's important to be aware of any employee disabilities or mental health issues and to make appropriate adjustments where possible. This is vital for maintaining morale and ensuring that everyone feels like they're able to contribute to the team.
It's key that your role as a remote manager isn't just to be an effective communicator, but also to be a good listener. Take on board the needs of your team and do your best to accommodate them.
Accommodating diverse teams also includes providing adequate support to employees with dyslexia, ADHD, or other conditions which may impact their ability to work remotely.
Plan Group Training Activities
A successful business invests in its employees' development by ensuring continuous training opportunities. However, organising and scheduling group training courses can be difficult when employees are based remotely.
One way to overcome this is to plan optional group training activities that team members can attend online. This could be a series of webinars, live workshops or even just reading materials that are sent out in advance. You can also provide individual training in role-specific areas that team members may want to develop.
Organise 1-to-1 Meetings Regularly
1-to-1 meetings are a key way to provide feedback and coaching to employees, and this is especially important for remote workers.
Make sure that you schedule regular 1-to-1s with all of your team members, and that you adjust the frequency depending on their role and level of responsibility. This will ensure that everyone is kept up to date, feels supported and knows what they need to do to improve their performance.
By continually checking in on the development of your team members you can help to maintain their morale and encourage them to reach their full potential.
Plan Optional Virtual Lunches
Creating an optional office-style virtual lunch environment is a great way to help you manage the mental well-being of your team.
This could involve setting up a regular chatroom where team members can pop in and out, or organising regular video calls where everyone can join in. This type of environment can help to reduce the feeling of isolation that some remote workers experience and will make them feel more connected to the rest of the team.
It can also be a great way for team members to connect on a personal level and to get to know each other better.
Come Up With Weekly Challenges
Remote teams can sometimes find it difficult to stay focused, especially when they're not working in a traditional office environment.
One way to combat this is to come up with weekly challenges that team members can participate in. This could be anything from writing a certain number of blog posts or coding for a certain number of hours, to adding themed songs to a group playlist or sharing something on social media.
By giving team members a specific challenge to work on, you can help to keep them focused and motivated. Plus, it's a great way for them to learn new skills and to see how they can contribute to the team's overall goal.
Go To The Virtual Pub At The End Of The Week
Another great way to keep team morale high is to organise a virtual pub night at the end of each week. This could involve setting up a chatroom or video call where team members can join in and have some fun.
It's a great way for team members to relax and unwind after a hard week's work, and it can also help to strengthen team bonds. You could even host your own virtual pub quiz or have a remote karaoke night. The possibilities are endless!
Final Thoughts
Maintaining a remote team can be difficult without the right tools, but by following these tips you can create a supportive and productive environment for your team members. By providing regular training opportunities, organising 1-to-1 meetings and planning fun team activities, you can help to keep your remote team members happy and motivated.