According to Pew Research Center, approximately 14% of the workforce in the United States currently work from home. That’s roughly 22 million people. This presents employers with new challenges compared to having a team located onsite. How do you make a team feel like a team when they are working from home? When a team does not always meet face-to-face, there is a new set of challenges that must be addressed. 

According to Hire with Near “Having a solid, positive work team culture is essential for any organization, and that extends to your remote employees. When employees feel like they are part of a team, they become more engaged in their work and feel a sense of belonging- both critical components to successful working relationships.” It takes intentionality to create a strong remote team, but it is worth the investment. 

Here are five ways to create a strong sense of connection within your team. 

    1. Establish regular check-ins with your team. Weekly or even short daily check-ins can help ensure that everyone feels connected. This frequent, regular communication provides team members with the opportunity to keep everyone up-to-date on the status of their work as well as any new challenges they are facing. Teams need to have regular group check-ins as well as individual check-ins with managers. Ask your team members whether they prefer video chats or “voice-only” calls when meeting individually. By connecting in a way that your employee feels most comfortable, you are providing a safe environment where they feel at ease. 
    2. Utilize apps for quick communication between team members. Updates within apps such as Slack or Notion can quickly keep everyone on the same page regarding the status of a project. It is also a great way for team members to “chat” with one another about non-work related items. Create a messaging channel focused on other topics to provide a casual point of connection within the group. 
    3. Create shared break time routines. The idea here is to recreate the “break-room” camaraderie that happens in the office. Having the opportunity for casual chats with no work agenda is beneficial as it increases employees’ sense of belonging and engagement with their coworkers. 
    4. Focus on celebrating the “wins” within your team. Many people enjoy celebrating and acknowledging others for their good work. At the end of the week, consider focusing on sharing the “wins” from your team to help motivate one another. Reflecting on what is working, provides the opportunity for others to learn and grow alongside their coworkers. This shared culture helps to build trust within your team. Another simple way to do this is to make it a priority to celebrate personal milestones such as birthdays or work anniversaries. These quick moments of celebration help create a sense of belonging within the group.  
    5. Prioritize building trust within your team. A trusting environment can make or break your team. Although everyone might be working from home, it is critical to build a foundational relationship of trust. This means creating an environment in which your employees feel safe to voice their concerns and challenges. Encourage team members to be transparent and to ask for help when needed. Provide opportunities for all voices within the team to be heard. Feedback is key to maintaining a healthy working relationship. 

Managers are responsible for keeping an organized and strong team together. There are many great ways to bring your team together through technology. Build trust and find common ground. Keep everyone involved and build a safe community so that everyone feels they have a chance to share their thoughts and feedback. When you implement these things into your team, you will notice that being physically present does not make a good team. It is participation, listening, and respect that really builds effective teams.