5 Effective Strategies for Fostering Strong Connections in Your Remote Team

Loneliness is an epidemic — this is how we’ve created a sense of connection and belonging in our remote team

The team at 55 Minutes during one of our in-person meetups!

Remote work has become the norm rather than the exception. Although this shift offers many benefits such as flexibility and work-life balance, it can also present challenges, especially when it comes to maintaining team cohesion and camaraderie.

The “secret sauce” to building a strong remote team is creating a balance between work and play, and online/offline collaboration. Here are five strategies we’ve taken to keep our remote team close.

1. Wine Down Friday: Unwinding and Connecting

Wine Down Friday is our monthly ritual to unwind and have some fun together. We’ve learned that combining work and play is the key to building a strong team. So, we make sure to set aside time for us to let loose, destress and enjoy each other’s company outside the confines of work tasks.

We take turns to plan each WDF, and sometimes the upcoming activity is put to a vote. It’s a democratic process, and everyone’s opinion matters. This way, we ensure that the chosen activity resonates with the majority and guarantees a good time for everybody. The voting process also builds anticipation and excitement as we look forward to the winning activity. It’s a small gesture, but it highlights our commitment to inclusivity and making decisions together as a team.

Here are a few of our past WDF activities:

A different kind of creative activity! This time using our hands to carve our own chopsticks.

Woodworking: We once tried our hands at woodworking and made chopsticks during a 1.5-hour crash course. It was a sweaty experience, but more importantly, it brought us closer as we cheered each other on. Some of us even discovered hidden talents, bringing home masterpieces that we will proudly use for years to come.

Gaming: Adeline brought her Nintendo Switch and we played 1–2-Switch in the office lounge! It was a hilarious session and everyone had the chance to get on our feet and for some physically and mentally challenging minigames.

Another day, another fun game the team can do to compete against one another. :)

Crafting: Coaster tufting session, anyone? Not all of us are crafty, but that’s what made it an interesting experience. We struggled, laughed, and bonded over our not-so-perfect needlework. The shared experience of trying something new, even with varying degrees of success, created an atmosphere of acceptance and unity.

2. Trust, Support, and Speaking Our Minds

One WDF, we took advantage of the sunny weather to picnic at Singapore Barrage.

Our remote team is like a tight-knit unit. We trust and support each other, and there’s no holding back when it comes to sharing our thoughts. Creating a safe space where everyone feels valued has made us a super cohesive team.

With open communication as our guiding principle, we encourage team members to voice their ideas, concerns, frustrations, and feedback freely. This openness not only fosters trust but also sparks creativity and innovation. We’ve learned that when everyone feels heard and respected, we can work collaboratively and fearlessly tackle any project that comes our way.

3. Keeping the Communication Flowing

Communication is the glue that holds us together, and Slack is our superhero when it comes to instant messaging. We’ve got channels for projects, of course, but we also love to keep things fun with channels like “food appreciation” and “hobbies.” When it’s time for a birthday surprise, we create a special channel and let the planning begin!

Creating spaces for casual conversations and shared interests allows us to bond on a personal level, making us not just colleagues but friends. Being able to reach each other for a quick video call when texting is not enough is really important to prevent miscommunications and snarls. Zoom, Google Meet, and Slack Huddle are our go-to platforms for online facetime, brainstorming and team discussions.

4. Tech Tools for Smoother Sailing

We’re all about being efficient, which is why we love using Notion for project tracking and management. It keeps us organised and on top of our game, even when we’re apart. Notion serves as our digital hub for task management, collaborative note-taking, and sharing important resources. It’s incredibly flexible and easy to use, allowing us to tailor it to our team’s unique needs.

For collaborative online meetings, we make liberal use of synchronous editing features available in Google suite and Figma. With everyone on the same page, we can navigate projects seamlessly, track progress and adapt to changes in real-time.

5. Making Time for Some Face-to-Face Meetings

While we’re pros at remote work, we know the value of real-life collaboration. That’s why we hold monthly in-person check-in sessions where everyone has the opportunity to share project updates, talk about possible roadblocks and request for additional help. Depending on the project, we also plan face-to-face meetings when appropriate.

These meetups allow us to have more in-depth discussions, brainstorming sessions and strategic planning. Being able to spend a bit of time together in the same room can reignite the team spirit and inject fresh energy into ongoing projects.

Conclusion

And there you have it — our winning recipe for keeping our remote team close and productive. By combining work and play with Wine Down Friday, fostering open communication, leveraging collaborative tools like Slack, Google Suite, Zoom, Figma, and Notion, as well as incorporating real-life meetings whenever possible, we’ve built a strong team that transcends distance.

So, whether you’re working from home or across the world, remember to have some fun, stay connected, and enjoy the journey with your awesome team! Together, we can conquer any challenge and create a dynamic and supportive work environment that thrives on camaraderie.

Elena is the introverted project manager of 55 Minutes. She keeps the team humming along, working hard and meeting deadlines from kick-off to completion! Elena is also a sustainability advocate who inspires us to do our part to care for the earth.