Culture building remotely (that isn't zoom happy hours)
Virtual happy hours are only interesting for so long.
Here are a few practical tips on building culture / fostering connection remotely (try them if you're running a business remotely or talk to your boss if you're working remote).
They come from my interview with a remote company founder (she's been running the business remotely since 2001). But here's the highlights if you don't want to click out:
Transparency
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The team is allowed to submit any question anonymously, and the CEO will answer it publicly
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If necessary, it will also be accompanied by action (like when she removed everyone's phone numbers from their website)
Fun
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They do this company-wide conference call on Wednesdays (called "Walking Wednesdays"). They encourage everyone to take a walk and then the conversation is about something random, like your first car, and everyone shares a story
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It's optional to attend, so no one feels forced
Recognition
"We have a Slack channel called REDcognition, where we recognize members of our team for the good work they do for one another. We also post when good client feedback comes in because I want the team to know about it."
Civic duty
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The company joined an initiative called Make Time To Vote, which is a pledge to give employees paid time on election day to go to the polls
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They also added an "I Voted" channel to their Slack where people can show that they voted during primaries / on election day
Family and COVID
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They are planning a virtual talent show, since a lot of their staff are musicians
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For kids at home during the summer cause of COVID, they are planning a virtual show and tell series (including a virtual bring your pet to work day where kids get to share their pets with everyone else via zoom)
If you liked these insights, I'd love to have you as a subscriber on Remotely Inclined - I publish 2x a week with stories and insights all about running a remote business and being a remote entrepreneur.
