Creating an engaging and exciting virtual workplace culture is a huge challenge facing businesses today.
Employees are struggling with the loss of face-to-face interaction and there are only so many zoom trivia nights you can do. Here are five ways you can promote worker engagement.
1. Let Your Staff Drive The Virtual Culture
Co-create your new virtual culture with your staff. Give your staff ownership of crafting the worker engagement and employee experience they want. They will tell you exactly what they want and need.
A common mistake for business leaders is to copy other companies and expect them to work the same way in their organization. Letting your staff drive the new online culture means you will build one they are excited about and committed to.
All you need to do is guide them and refine what they come up with.
2. Send Care Packages
Care packages will show your employees that you are thinking of them and their wellbeing. Sending coffee and tea for example can boost morale and make the remote workplace more bearable.
Getting creative with care packages can be really powerful. Sending puzzles or DIY kits gives your employees a fun activity that they can share in, despite not being able to be physically together.
This shared experience will bring a feeling of togetherness and team bonding.
3. Encouraging Employee Side Projects
Giving your employees the autonomy to work on personal projects that align with your business goals creates a culture of innovation and creativity.
This may seem counterproductive, but Google’s side project program produced Gmail. Google now gives employees 20% of their time to create new products.
During a time when work may be slower or when innovation and creativity is really needed, giving your employees a license to create new products and services can be just what your business needs.
4. Creating A Culture Of Connectedness
People are social creatures and crave connection and inclusion. Managers should seek to replace the break room or local cafe and create virtual spaces where employees can be their genuine selves.
Managers should take time at the beginning of meetings to have water cooler discussions with their staff. Ask how their family is and what they did on their weekend.
Another option is to create a networking system that encourages employees to have one on one and group discussions with their colleagues without a manager present. This will lead to greater connectivity and employees celebrating and supporting one another.
5. Showing Appreciation
Recognizing and appreciating your employee’s effort and work is critical. Your employees didn’t sign up for remote working and are finding it just as challenging as you are.
Take time to thank your employees for both their work and their effort. Even acknowledging that remote working is a challenge for them and that you appreciate their adaptability is important.
Simple gestures have a huge impact on employee engagement. When employees feel cared about and appreciated they are more likely to go the extra mile and make your life easier.
Creating Worker Engagement
Working from home has created challenges for worker engagement. Many employees are feeling disconnected from their colleagues and this contributes to burnout. As an employer, you can facilitate better workplace engagement using these five simple tips.
For more tips on how to manage your remote workers check out our blog.
