Remote teamwork: how to stay connected
If you’re working remotely, you’ll know that it can be a bit of a challenge to feel like you’re part of a team, especially if you rarely, or even never, meet your colleagues in person. But don’t worry, we’ve got some tips to help you stay connected and be an effective member of a remote team.
Probably the most important thing you can do as a remote team member is communicate effectively. Make sure you’re regularly checking in with your team and that you have a clear understanding of everyone’s roles and responsibilities, including your own.
When you're working remotely, it's important to be reliable and meet deadlines.
Your team members are counting on you to do your part, so make sure you’re delivering on time. You may need to learn a few time management strategies if this isn’t your strong point! Use your team’s project management tools to keep track of tasks and deadlines and make sure you’re on top of everything.
Your team members will appreciate your contributions and it will help you to feel more connected to the team. The other side of that coin is to make sure you listen to the ideas and suggestions of your colleagues and give them feedback.
Even in a work context, a lot of our interaction with people is informal and even non-verbal. Body language and facial expressions are levels of communication many of us pick up on without realising it and a lot can be said by a shared smile or a shrug. If you only meet your team online, a lot of this doesn’t happen easily but just because you’re working remotely doesn’t mean you can’t connect with your colleagues and develop friendships. Ask questions and get to know them a little. Check in with them and respond sensitively if you know they are having problems.
Share some downtime with your team. Schedule regular virtual coffee breaks or happy hours to stay connected and maintain a sense of camaraderie. Play games together online or in VR and chill out. Epic’s course Virtual icebreakers and team building has some games and activities that you can use to get to know each other better and have a bit of fun.
Look after yourself. If you are feeling isolated or are struggling with your workload, reach out to your team, especially your team leader, and ask for support. People are generally kind and very willing to help but in a remote team it’s harder to pick up on the subtle clues that show someone is not ok, so you have to be more open about it.
Working remotely has heaps of benefits but also throws up some unique challenges. If you want to make the most of your remote working experience, check out our Create a healthy remote workspace course for some ideas and strategies to help you stay productive, healthy, and connected.
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