Create and Communicate Cultural Standards
The pandemic has changed work environments in various ways, with some companies embracing remote work and cloud-based collaboration. However, remote work can come at a cost, particularly where culture is concerned. To establish a corporate culture and identity for remote brands, it’s crucial to create and communicate cultural standards. Forbes Coaches Council recommends starting with core values and being transparent with the definition.
Invest in Tangible Manifestations of Cultural Elements
Company culture should not just be idealistic rhetoric; leaders must find ways to demonstrate their brand’s values to their remote employees. This could mean helping staff avoid burnout by reducing workloads or outsourcing tasks to a partner. Remote-friendly ways of avoiding burnout should be found, and words put into action to build every facet of remote work culture.
Resist the Tendency Toward Isolation and Stagnation
Remote work can lead to isolation and eventual stagnation, with a decline in personal productivity and general team performance. Remote and hybrid team leaders should thus emphasize a sense of work/life balance and clear boundaries as a fundamental part of their company culture to combat isolation and promote engagement. Creating a corporate culture for a remote team is challenging, but the key is focusing on attainable cultural elements such as employee care, creating boundaries and work-life balance, which can be applicable to a virtual or hybrid team.