5 Ways to Cultivate a Positive Company Culture Remotely

The way we work is changing. So is how we perceive work.

Businesses around the world have informed many employees that remote working is likely going to be around for much longer than initially anticipated. Regardless of how loose local governments may make operational guidelines during the pandemic, many businesses will not want to risk the spread of COVID-19 if they can help it. Many have found that remote work has its value.

That said, it’s still a considerable shift in traditional corporate culture. Many employees express greater satisfaction and productivity working from home. Many still struggle. Combined, the vast majority of remote workers, however, find the unfamiliar nature of remote work a little unsettling and are having a difficult time getting a good grasp on what their corporate culture is like now.

Is it the same as before, but remote? Has it changed along with the events of this past year?

Are these good changes? Is the current corporate culture a positive force? How can your business identify and experience a nurturing corporate culture when the only interaction people experience is via Zoom?

These are questions you as a business owner, manager, supervisor, or even fellow employee would do well to ask.

By reinforcing an influential, positive company culture that exceeds the walls of your home office building, you can set your business apart from other employers. Here are five ways to help nurture a healthy, positive corporate culture remotely.

Reaffirm your values.

Your company culture makes up a large part of what defines your company. At the center sits your core values. That said, unless you’re practicing those values, they’re virtually worthless. That would be worse than not having any values at all.

Offer up what you see as your business’s core values to your employees and broadly present your company culture as a whole. This isn’t something to keep secret. Show them why these things matter — using personal experience if possible — and illustrate how you and your employees can use this company culture positively, which nurtures both the company and its clientele.

Welcome honest feedback and communication

Given everything going on these days, it’s a good idea to hold on to your employees. Check in with them about how they perceive the company and their lives or positions within it. Send out questionnaires or surveys about the current work culture to see how people feel, then — most importantly — listen to what they say.

If you demonstrate to your employees that their opinions matter, they will be more likely not to seek employment elsewhere, take greater satisfaction in their work, and give your business positive word-of-mouth. Positivity from an employee who feels appreciated will add to a positive company culture overall.

Nurture a team mentality

By working remotely, it can be easy for employees to experience a loss of motivation. This is especially true given the frustration knowing that things are unlikely to change for a while. The holiday season is going to be very different this year.

How do you counteract this?

One thing you can do is develop a goal your entire team can get excited about. Lean heavily on the concept that “we’re all in this together” and see where that takes you. By focusing on the idea of everyone being on the same team, each member can experience and show their value by making their contribution toward the shared goal.

This will foster a sense of unity — even community. It can also reveal those who are having issues keeping up so you can address those issues before they become a bigger problem.

Touch base with everyone on your team

Don’t assume that because most or all of your team is working from home, their workday is a breeze. Some are doing better than others. Working from home tends to be hard on the more extroverted team members. Isolation can be stressful. Make sure to arrange regular chats with your team — as a group or individually — to see how they’re feeling and offer assistance if any seem to be struggling.

By keeping channels of communication open with your team, they will feel more connected to the business and feel more appreciated. In areas and businesses where social distancing and working from home are still the norm, it’s important that everyone stay in touch and connected.

Find ways to have a little fun

All work and no play… and so forth.

Identify those parts in the workweek that are slower than the rest and maybe arrange some in-house recreation. It doesn’t necessarily have to be games (although that can be nice), but a social, non-agenda driven chat period, some shared Netflix viewing, or anything else you think might shake things up and let your employees take a break from the hustle.

Don’t make social or recreational events mandatory. The whole idea of “you will have fun, or else,” is a real morale-killer. A digital ad agency I work with has an after-hours D&D game. Great for a nerd like me. That same agency also organizes group Fortnite games. These might sound trivial at first, but if you look at activities like this as stealth team-building exercises, their value becomes readily apparent.

Having a company culture that understands the importance of downtime will retain employees longer and build more value over time.

I think it’s safe to say that everyone has a story about working someplace that had a toxic company culture. You don’t want to be that place. While it’s not always easy to tell if your workplace is one of those poisonous places, a good sign would be how you respond to the challenge of creating a positive corporate culture.

The truth is that happy, satisfied employees are more productive, stay longer, and have a positive impact on your business’s reputation. Nurturing a healthy corporate culture isn’t hard and doesn’t take much time or resources, but the dividends can be huge.

We’re living and working during strange, often trying times. There’s no reason to make things more stressful than they already are. Use your company culture as its saving grace. Your employees will thrive, and so will your business.

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