When news of the novel coronavirus started spreading as fast as well a virus, many businesses were not prepared to run with distributed or remote teams. But they didn’t have a choice.

Though many successful companies are full distributed (Invision) and most big companies have offices around the globe, this shift was sudden and shocking. Some organizations stepped up to these challenges and others had a few blunders but figured it out in the end.

For individual employees the change was possibly harder. Many employees had never not “gone to the office” to work before. Web conference calls on Zoom, Webex, Teams, or Meet which used to be that annoying this you had to do a few times a week become where people spent 6+ hours a day. Working from home, a former occasional treat, became coordination of kids schedules and arguing over who has the more important meeting and therefore deserved time in “the quiet room”.

We’re now months into dealing with life after / during COVID and returning to the office with coworkers anytime soon seems less likely by the day. It seems everyday there is a new announcement of a school district or large company that isn’t planning on reopening offices until 2021. The new normal that everyone is adjusting to as individuals must also be accommodated by organizations.

CONNECTION = COMMUNICATION

When people aren’t physically in the same place they often feel disconnected. That feeling is a result of missing out on interactions with coworkers at an alternative location. FOMO is real at work too (think about that meeting you wish you were in…)

More accurately, it is about missing out on STORIES. Research has shown that telling stories helps create community and empathy. Sharing personal experiences with coworkers adds dimension to an other potentially transitional relationship between coworkers.

Depth of relationship with teammates often translates to employee satisfaction. It also often leads to more streamlined and open communication. Without this depth people may lack the ability to speak freely when something is going wrong which can lead to missed timelines or incomplete products.

Projects also seem to take longer to execute because asynchronous communication is inefficient. No one wants buggy products that take longer to build, and you can only blame COVID for so much.

What can you do to foster connection across distribute teams? Below are some ideas that I’ve seen work, but they are by no means an exhaustive list. Please send me things that have helped improve connection where you work so that I can add them to my tool belt.

https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/collection-business-people-collection_2944701.htm

Give everyone time to talk:

This seems obvious but I can’t tell you how many times I’m in a meeting where the person on the screen has to fight to be heard. When everyone is giving an update or opinion, make sure to include EVERYONE. Similarly, pause and ask quieter team members their thoughts on topics that are being discussed. Mix things up to make sure no one is always first or last so that no one feels like an afterthought or that everything has already been said.

Hold virtual office hours:

This can be by function, team, or just random. A time where people are available to chat about a topic on a regular schedule at a defined URL (Appear.in or Zoom rooms are great for these). Be sure to choose a time that’s convenient for multiple locations and that if you’re very spread out over time zones that everyone has some office hours that are in the most ideal time for them.

Host virtual town halls with execs:

Everyone wants a little face time with the company leadership, so make them available for a virtual town hall. If you can poll employees in advance about what they want to ask the exec, that’s even better. Executive face time is critical to having the employees feel connected so rotate which exec is taking the questions. You never know, it might be something you end up doing once you’re all back at the office in a few months.

Be flexible with work schedules:

With different timezones and childcare needs, it’s more difficult to make everyone available at the same time. Encourage a small group of “working hours” where everyone is generally online and then let people do what they need to do otherwise.

Surprise and delight your team members:

Whether it’s a box filled with snacks, a virtual background competition, or a cameo appearance in a team meeting, try to spice things up a little bit and provide something unexpected and fun for your employees. Rather than simply having a team lunch or happy hour, think about making them a little more fun with a game (like pictionary, never have I ever, etc.) You’ll me surprised about how the unexpected creates a more relaxed atmosphere at a time when anxiety and stress at their height.

The actions above will make all team members feel more included, respected, and connected. But, every company is different. What works for one won’t work for all. Which tactics have you tried? What others have you seen work?

P.s. I want to leave you with a positive note. I believe the future of work is distributed and asynchronous and if you as a company can rise above the challenges, you will be setup for greatness. Here’s some insights about how Invision, a 100% distributed team stays connected. God speed to you!

Get the Most Out of Distributed Teams with these Tricks and Tips